Urban geometry as a determinant of outdoor thermal comfort

Abstract

Architecture through the time has been an important factor that facilitates life styles and environment. The challenge for architects is to create psychologically and physically comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces. The outdoor public spaces have become the heart of the civic life of the city where people carry out their activities that binds a community. All the spatial scales in the built environment obeys to rhythms and major forces, which enforce their laws that must be learnt and respect (Bouillot,2002).The success of these spaces, especially urban public spaces is depending on many factors, of which, the level of thermal comfort is seen as an important aspect. Although the equatorial life is partly outdoor phenomenon, the modem urban design has failed to facilitate such living in a climatically pleasant manner. Recent studies worldwide have indicated that the influence of densely built urban areas on the formation of urban climatic conditions and particularly on the determination of the microclimate. The evaluation of influence of urban geometry on the microclimate and the human comfort in urban spaces in such areas are among the main aims of the research project. It will also be useful to reveal misreferences, state recommendations and supply tools and tracks for the design. Nowadays it is more than evident that improving the quality of life in urban centres does not require only successful buildings. It also requires climatically sensitive urban public spaces which could enhance and enrich the urban life.