Addressing thermophysiological thresholds and psychological aspects during hot and dry mediterranean summers through public space design: The case of Rossio

Abstract

Within the contemporary city, the effects of urban climatology are increasingly elucidating the need for further climate responsive environments. So far however, and as global climate studies often present limited local specificity for urban planning and design, there has been a growing interest for complementary bottom-up perspectives which describe how efforts of adaptation can be locally initiated. Accompanying this interest, and orientated at a specific case study, this article presents the results of an empirical analysis that was undertaken during July of 2015 within one of Lisbon's iconic historical public spaces, Rossio. The study was built upon two foundational interrogations: (1) What are the principal microclimatic risk factors within the square that can affect pedestrian thermal comfort thresholds?; and, (2) How can the identified risk factors be translated into opportunities for public space design?In order to obtain an initial understanding of thermal comfort conditions, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and Shadow Behaviour Simulations (SBS) simulations were undertaken to establish six Points of Interest (POI) within the square. Subsequently, ambient temperature, surface temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, global radiation and Sky-View-Factor (SVF) were measured with on-site meteorological handheld equipment. In order to complement these examinations, Pedestrian Based Response (PBR) interviews were also conducted. Finally, through the application of the biometeorological RayMan model, the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) index was used in order to: (i) obtain approximations of diurnal physiological stress around the square; and subsequently, (ii) propose conceptual public space design solutions to improve existing thermal comfort conditions in the square.