Block morphology refers to critical parameters influencing building energy performance on the block scale. However, analysis of the combined effect of block morphological parameters on building energy consumption with real blocks is lacking. In this paper, the aim is to evaluate the combined effect of office block morphology on building energy consumption in the context of the Hot-summer and Cold-winter zone in China. First, a workflow for the energy assessment of office buildings with the coupled block morphology on the block scale was proposed with evaluation tools. Seventy office blocks in Wuhan were taken as examples and then classified based on building layout typology and building height. Afterwards, the morphological parameters and building energy use intensity (EUI) for different blocks were calculated. Then, the combined effect of block morphology on the buildings’ energy consumption was evaluated and the model on predicting the building energy consumption of office blocks was proposed. Finally, based on the results, low-energy design strategies were projected for office blocks. The results illustrated that the effect of block morphology on building cooling, heating, and lighting is EUI 28.83%, 28.56%, and 23.23%, respectively. Building shape factor (BSF), floor area ratio (FAR), average building height of block (BH), and average building depth of block (BD) are effective block morphological parameters. The key morphological parameters which combined affect the building energy consumption of office blocks are BSF and FAR; BSF has 1.24 times the effect on building energy consumption than FAR. The workflow built in this paper can be applied to other cities around the world for promoting sustainable cities.

The visibility and spatial characteristics of commercial space are the key factors that affect the space vitality. However, the coupling visibility graphical analysis of commercial spaces and spatial characteristics to quantitatively analyse consumer behaviour in commercial street spaces and assess the vitality of retail spaces has not been adequately studied. In this paper, the aim is to conduct a visibility graph analysis of Zhuangli Street in Letai Center, Shijiazhuang, using space syntax theory, assessing the spatial vitality of the retail space by investigating the shop visits. First, a methodology for obtaining data on spatial characteristics and consumer behaviour of shopping streets was developed. Secondly, this article constructs a process for a visibility graph analysis of Zhuangli Street based on space syntax theory. Third, two combination variables of the space coefficient and depth coefficient of shop windows in retail spaces of a commercial street are proposed. Finally, the effect of combination variables and business types on spatial vitality was analyzed using correlation and multiple regression methods, and a space vitality prediction model was proposed. The results showed that the shop with the highest shop visits of retail spaces in the shopping street is 13.55 times higher than the smallest shop. The space coefficient of the shop window, depth coefficient of the shop window, and space connectivity of retail spaces in commercial streets have positive effects on space vitality. The workflow proposed in this paper can provide technical support for retail space design in commercial streets as well as evaluating and optimizing commercial street space design solutions.

Controlling building carbon emissions (CEs) is key to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Residential blocks are the main contributors of buildings’ carbon emissions and intensity, and thus can be manipulated to achieve carbon neutrality. This work aimed to evaluate the building carbon emissions intensity (CEI) levels of residential blocks using Rhino and Grasshopper and to quantify the relationship between the block form parameters and a building’s carbon emissions (CEs). Firstly, 48 cases were selected by stratified sampling, and they were classified by architectural typology. Secondly, the residential block morphological parameters and building carbon emissions were calculated. Thirdly, the relationship between the block form parameters and the building’s CE was quantified using statistical methods. Lastly, low-carbon planning strategies for residential blocks under the target of carbon neutrality were proposed. The findings showed that the influence of the block form parameters on a building’s CE was 31.66%. A building’s shape factor has a positive influence on its CE, and the floor area ratio, building volume–site area ratio, and building height have negative influences on its CE. A building’s shape factor, cover ratio, and surface–site area ratio synergistically impact its CE. The weight of a building’s shape factor on its carbon emissions was 3.84 times that of its cover ratio and 4.46 times that of its surface–site area ratio. The technology workflow proposed in this study can provide data in support of carbon emissions assessments and low-carbon planning strategies for urban blocks in other cities in China and worldwide.

The spatial layout and arrangement of obstacles in the built environment significantly affect its evacuation performance. However, few researchers focus on pedestrian simulation-based design optimization of built environment under emergency evacuation conditions. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the evacuation performance of optimized design solutions for traffic space in the teaching building of a primary school based on a pedestrian simulation approach and to quantify the effect of design parameters on evacuation time. Firstly, the level of traffic space design parameters was determined and optimized design solutions for the traffic space of the school building were generated. Secondly, based on the Anylogic simulation platform, the environment module and pedestrian evacuation behaviour rules of the teaching building were built to realize the evacuation behaviour simulation. Thirdly, the effect of the traffic space design parameters on the evacuation time of the teaching building was evaluated and the most significant design parameters were identified. Finally, the optimal combination of traffic space design parameters was proposed under evacuation performance orientation. The results show that the sensitivity of the traffic space design parameters to evacuation time is 31.85%. The effect of corridor width on evacuation time is 49.06 times greater than the staircase width. The optimal design combination for the traffic space in the teaching building of the primary school is a 3.0 m wide trapezoidal corridor combined with a 3.6 m wide staircase, and a 3.0 m wide fish maw corridor combined with 3.6 m wide staircase, guided by evacuation performance. The framework developed in this paper provides technical support for the development of evacuation performance-oriented design optimization of the built environment, and the results are intended to supplement the building design specifications.