A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Outdoor Comfort in Cold Climates : Integrating Microclimate Factors in Urban Design
Designing urban spaces that provide outdoor comfort is an important but challenging goal in subarctic climates. An approach to urban design that is sensitive to subarctic climatic conditions is essential, but this requires effective incorporation of urban climate knowledge into urban design, which presently is impeded by several barriers. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the knowledge of climate-sensitive urban design with a focus on outdoor comfort in cold climates. This thesis consists of a cover essay and three papers, which together address three questions: (1) What are the barriers to integrating climate factors into urban design in subarctic climates? (2) How do urban design practitioners address outdoor comfort in design process? (3) How can wind and solar considerations be integrated into the design of urban spaces? In accordance with the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of this research, a mixed method approach was adopted, including a literature review, two interview-based studies and microclimate analysis of an urban design proposal.The study objectives were pursued in three stages corresponding to the research questions. The first stage consisted of interviews with local planners, which aimed to identify key barriers hindering the incorporation of climatic factors in urban planning in subarctic regions. Key findings include the identification of barriers related to design based, attitudinal, organisational, conceptual and technical issues. The design based issues relate to contextual difficulties for comfort design in cold climates, namely snow and low sun elevation. Attitudinal and organisational barriers include the neglect of opportunities for and challenges associated with urban liveability in cold climates, failure to exploit local knowledge and lack of engagement among local planners and politicians. Conceptual barriers relate to a lack of climate knowledge among practitioners and technical barriers relate to methods and the principles to be used in design, particularly wind ...
Outdoor Comfort in Cold Climates : Integrating Microclimate Factors in Urban Design
Designing urban spaces that provide outdoor comfort is an important but challenging goal in subarctic climates. An approach to urban design that is sensitive to subarctic climatic conditions is essential, but this requires effective incorporation of urban climate knowledge into urban design, which presently is impeded by several barriers. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the knowledge of climate-sensitive urban design with a focus on outdoor comfort in cold climates. This thesis consists of a cover essay and three papers, which together address three questions: (1) What are the barriers to integrating climate factors into urban design in subarctic climates? (2) How do urban design practitioners address outdoor comfort in design process? (3) How can wind and solar considerations be integrated into the design of urban spaces? In accordance with the broad scope and interdisciplinary nature of this research, a mixed method approach was adopted, including a literature review, two interview-based studies and microclimate analysis of an urban design proposal.The study objectives were pursued in three stages corresponding to the research questions. The first stage consisted of interviews with local planners, which aimed to identify key barriers hindering the incorporation of climatic factors in urban planning in subarctic regions. Key findings include the identification of barriers related to design based, attitudinal, organisational, conceptual and technical issues. The design based issues relate to contextual difficulties for comfort design in cold climates, namely snow and low sun elevation. Attitudinal and organisational barriers include the neglect of opportunities for and challenges associated with urban liveability in cold climates, failure to exploit local knowledge and lack of engagement among local planners and politicians. Conceptual barriers relate to a lack of climate knowledge among practitioners and technical barriers relate to methods and the principles to be used in design, particularly wind ...
Outdoor Comfort in Cold Climates : Integrating Microclimate Factors in Urban Design
Ebrahimabadi, Saeed (author)
2015-01-01
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology 1 jan 1997 → …, 1402-1544
Theses
Electronic Resource
English
Thermal comfort in outdoor spaces and urban canyon microclimate
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