Optimizing Building Performance: A Grasshopper Modeling Case Study of the King Hussein Mosque

In Mediterranean regions, traditional courtyard designs are celebrated for their passive cooling potential, yet modern mosques often rely heavily on energy-intensive cooling systems due to underperforming architectural strategies. This study addresses this paradox by leveraging parametric modeling to optimize courtyard-driven energy efficiency in the King Hussein Mosque, Jordan. Using a novel Grasshopper-based workflow integrating Ladybug, Honeybee, and Butterfly plugins, we quantify how courtyard orientation, enclosure, and fenestration impact Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and thermal comfort. Simulations revealed a baseline EUI of 111.132 kWh/m2 (EPC Rating E), with cooling demands contributing 20.432 kWh/m2 despite three courtyards designed for natural ventilation. Parametric testing of interventions—including partial courtyard enclosures and optimized window-to-wall ratios—reduced EUI to 98.989 kWh/m2 (EPC Rating D), achieving an 11% energy savings while maintaining the mosque’s architectural integrity. Thermal comfort in the prayer hall improved by 15%, with UTCI thresholds shifting from “high heat stress” to “moderate comfort” during summer occupancy. This work pioneers the application of Grasshopper in mosque energy optimization, demonstrating its superiority over static simulation tools by enabling real-time, multi-variable adjustments tailored to intermittent prayer schedules. The findings challenge assumptions about courtyard efficacy in contemporary religious architecture, offering actionable retrofitting guidelines for designers: strategic partial enclosures, localized shading, and adaptive fenestration. By bridging computational design with cultural heritage preservation, this study provides a replicable framework for decarbonizing religious buildings in arid climates, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable Energy) and 11 (Sustainable Cities).