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The spontaneous evolution of vernacular architecture mainly relies on the inheritance of architectural traditions and the innovative decisions of occupants, rather than the professional guidance of architects and the promotion of government agencies. This study introduces a new and rapidly developing phenomenon of spontaneous green evolution of vernacular architecture into the professional field, and conducts scientific research on its technical characteristics, system effects, and optimization methods. Based on the phenomenon of roofing of courtyards (CBR) in southern Hebei, we intervene from the professional point of view of architects, make the best use of the situation, and moderately intervene in its scientific development. By re-examining the adaptability of the open and closed attributes of courtyard buildings to specific climatic conditions and living patterns, the performance improvement and potential risks brought by CBR to local vernacular buildings are systematically analyzed, and the improvement strategies and promotion paths of CBR are explored. The research aims to form a relay and interaction between the professional intervention of architects and the spontaneous evolution of folk wisdom, and to explore the sustainable development of vernacular architecture. The findings help to improve the health and comfort of existing vernacular buildings, as well as to contribute to the improvement of rural human settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Courtyard buildings are undergoing a spontaneous evolution, characterized by courtyards being roofed (CBR). • The CBR phenomenon is diverse and has a positive effect on the energy efficiency of existing buildings. • By harvesting solar energy and storing heat, CBR can reduce heat dissipation and shorten the heating period. • The light transmittance of the material and the heat storage space are key factors affecting energy efficiency of CBR. Courtyard building is an important type of vernacular architecture, widely distributed in different climate zones around the world. Traditionally, courtyards are characterized by opening to the sky, providing buffer spaces for ventilation and light for the surrounding buildings. However, in Hebei, China, local buildings are showing an evolution trend characterized by the courtyards being roofed (CBR). This spontaneous evolution presents the diversity of CBR technologies (CBRTs), including light-transmitting CBRTs (T-CBRTs) and non-light-transmitting CBRTs (NT-CBRTs). Based on field measurements and simulation technology, the improvement effect of CBR on building energy efficiency (EE) is analyzed, and the EE of different CBRTs is compared. The results show that, T-CBRT and NT-CBRT can reduce the annual total energy consumption of open courtyards by 19.97% and 15.41% respectively without upgrading the original envelope structure. The analysis of the impact mechanism shows that CBRT increases the temperature of the courtyard and the room by improving the solar energy collection efficiency and expanding the heat storage space, which effectively reduces the heat leakage caused by the envelope and ventilation, and shortens the heating time. The light transmittance of the roof material is the most critical parameter affecting the EE of T-CBRT, and the roof height largely determines the performance of NT-CBRT. Multi-layer glass or concrete panels are not the best choice for CBRT roofing materials, and plastic films or polycarbonate sheets with high light transmittance and anti-aging are recommended. CBR is considered as a promising development direction because it can reduce the economic burden of energy consumption for local farmers by improving the EE of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernacular architecture is an important artificial habitat landscape that responds to and evolves with specific natural and social contexts. Although abundant evidence highlights the fragility of vernacular architecture in the urbanization process, in-depth discussion of the resilient manifestations represented by its anonymous evolution is lacking. Liangshuixiu , a courtyard-form vernacular building in Southern Hebei , is taken as the example. This study explored its spontaneous evolution mechanism characterized by the courtyard being covered (CBR). Benefiting from the computer vision technology and the remarkable orthophotos of Liangshuaixiu , the distribution characteristics of the CBR phenomenon in 131 townships were identified by high-resolution network. Subsequently, 14 potential influencing factors were selected according to "push–pull" theory, and explanatory variables that affect the development of CBR were identified using redundancy analysis. Spatial autocorrelation analysis of the CBR showed a significant clustering trend of high in the south and low in the north. Redundancy analysis results showed that the combined effects of push–pull factors were the most important aspects to explain the evolution of Liangshuaixiu. Urban pull and rural push made a greater contribution to the development of CBR, with education level being the most critical factor, followed by population decline rate and government revenue. Rural pull and urban push had limited contribution to the development of CBR, in which the aging rate was an important explanatory factor. This study revealed the evolutionary characteristics of specific vernacular buildings in a data-driven manner, thereby providing quantitative insights into how urbanization drives the evolution of vernacular habitats. • The evolution of Liangshuaixiu dwellings was identified by CV technology. • The "push-pull" factors between urban and rural areas have jointly affected the evolution. • Education level is the most critical explanatory variable for the evolution. • A new research paradigm was provided to study the evolution mechanism of vernacular architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]