Geog.310 Urban Climatology
Architecture & Urban Planning
“The knowledge we have acquired about urban climates should not remain an academic
exercise on an interesting aspect of the atmospheric boundary layer. It should be applied
to the design of new towns or the reconstruction of old ones. The purpose is, of course, to
mitigate or eliminate the undesireable climatic modifications brought about by
urbanization.”-H. Landsberg (1981).
A. Climate and the built environment
1. Climate can influence planning of towns, buildings and settlement designs and can
evoke strategies to promote the efficiency of thermal comfort.
2. In turn, the built environment affects local and regional climate change, and
influences health and comfort.
B. Hot, humid climates
1. Found within 10-15o of the equator, in mainly developing or 3rd World countries.
Estimated over 40% of world’s population live in this region.
2. Persistent high temperatures, narrow diurnal temperature range. Rainfall abundant,
200-600 mm per month.
3. Solar radiation can be intense on clear days, with high diffuse radiation can have
large hourly changes.
4. Need to minimize climatic stress by reducing solar radiation gain, provide
maximum ventilation, and minimize flooding hazards.
5. Native architecture: open, widely separated buildings typical, often elevated on
stilts. Good roof construction and protection from high rainfall. Focus on natural
ventilation, buildings spread apart, elevated, with wind-permeable walls,
overhanging roofs for shade and water shedding. Maximize sea-breeze or
prevailing wind.
C. Hot, arid climates
1. Found mainly in subtropics.Summer daytime temperatures over 40oC, and with low
humidity, drop to 10-15oC at night. Some regions have mild winters, while others
may reach subfreezing temperatures in coldest months.
2. Strategy to minimize solar load in summer, maximize solar gains in winter,
minimize wind exposure in either season and build within smallest possible
building envelope. Examples from Middle East.
3. Settlements with dense and narrow streets, shaded sidewalks, short walking
distances, compact geometry, courtyards with greenery and use of high-albedo
building materials. Delay heat transfer into building during day, but provide
warming at night. Middle East examples use high-mass materials able to delay
impact of hot mid-day sun by storing energy in mass of walls and releasing it at
night through long-wave radiation emittance.
D. Cold climates-polar regions
1. In cold regions, design objectives should maximize solar gain and minimize wind
exposure. Similar to hot, dry regions in keeping warm as opposed to keeping cool.
High-mass materials with good insulating capacity, to maximize solar radiation and
minimize winds. Outer surface should reduce albedo (dark) to increase absorption,
with windows located on walls facing the sun.
2. Example of native building: igloo. With outside temperatures as low as -50oC, the
air at the top of the igloo dome can reach 15oC. Small ice window facing sun
sealed into dome captures solar radiation. Outer entrance chamber keeps colder air
outside living igloo space (iglik), which is elevated and use skins to block cold
from ground and outer chamber.
E. Cold alpine climates
1. A-frame house to avoid heavy snow load.
F. Mid-latitude 2-season climates, ie hot summers, cold winters
1. Need balance between avoiding heat buildup in summer and heat loss in winter.
Often wind directions change with seasons. Roof designs, deciduous trees,
landscaping, window placement and building orientation all can be used for
achieving comfort.
G. Urban Planning
1. Urban design should be concerned with those climatic challenges that stress the
population when they engage in outdoor activities, while architectural design or
building design must address indoor comfort. Should combine to provide comfort
with minimal energy use.
2. Maximizing/minimizing solar load can be achieved by spacing and orientation of
buildings, whether providing shade or allowing sunlight. Albedo choices determine
reflection/absorption amounts on different direction-facing walls. Shade trees can
be placed in locations where summer load is excessive.
3. Two concepts introduced to combat heat islands: light-colored surfaces, and
planting of trees.
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