Convection-based ventilation between courtyards in traditional houses in the city of Lima. The Riva-Agüero house

The traditional patio houses of Lima city were built under an evident Arab influence, in the constructive, formal and stylistic aspects. The similarity in the coastal desert climate allowed the transfer of some bioclimatic strategies, including a particular arrangement with two courtyards. The relative location, scale, and finishes of these patios suggest the intention of heating the first and larger one, trying to keep the second one cooler and more humid, and thereby inducing convection ventilation so that the air passes through the main rooms. The study aims to identify the presence of this strategy, for which an energy monitoring of the Riva-Agüero House was carried out on a warm and sunny summer day. The results showed that it is possible to activate convection ventilation between the patios, helping to maintain temperature levels inside the main spaces within comfortable ranges.