A Microclimate Testing and Improvement Strategy for Transitional Spatial Forms of Traditional Dwellings in the Hot-Summer Regions of China: The Case of Ningbo

This study investigates climate adaptation for the transitional spatial forms of traditional dwellings in Ningbo, China, a region characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The study focuses on identifying and classifying different forms of transitional spaces in Ningbo’s traditional dwellings and analyzing their microclimatic adjustment capabilities. Four representative traditional dwellings were selected for on-site microclimate measurements, covering analyses of temperature, humidity and wind speed data for different transitional spaces. The study used ENVI-met 5.7.1 software to simulate and assess the thermal comfort of these spaces and proposed design-improvement strategies. The results show that cold alleys exhibit the most effective cooling due to their enclosed structure, followed by corridors and patios. Based on the simulation results, targeted design strategies are proposed, and their measures successfully improve the thermal comfort performance of the transitional spaces to better adapt the traditional dwellings to modern living needs, providing a useful reference for the conservation and modernization of traditional dwellings in Ningbo, and promoting sustainable building practices in hot-summer and cold-winter regions.