Impact of Residential Building Layouts on Microclimate in a High Temperature and High Humidity Region

Yingjie Jiang,Mingjun Teng,Changguang Wu

doi:10.3390/su12031046

Abstract

Microclimatic condition is a fundamental indicator for evaluating outdoor space livability and vitality. Research has shown that poorly designed building layouts can lead to discomfort; however, the mechanisms influencing outdoor microclimate based on residential building layout are unclear for high temperature and high humidity regions. This study explores the relationship between residential building layouts and the outdoor wind and thermal environment at the pedestrian level in Wuhan, a city renowned for high temperatures and high humidity. Six typical residential building layouts were simulated, using the ENVI-met numerical model, to determine the spatial distribution of wind speed and air temperature. The Universal Thermal Climate Index was adopted as a comprehensive index with which to assess spatial and diurnal variations in microclimates surrounding each building layout. Results showed that parallel building layouts formed a ventilation corridor that increased wind speeds by approximately 0.3 m/s. A staggered building layout, in line with the prevailing wind direction, facilitated airflow in the ventilation corridor and further increased wind speeds. Windward buildings blocked high-temperature airflows and reduced air temperatures by approximately 1 ℃ in parallel layouts, and 1.4 ℃ in enclosed layouts. However, the cooling effect of windward buildings on high-temperature airflow was weaker than the warming effect caused by the wind shadow effect and direct sunlight. Additionally, the performance of the thermal comfort of the enclosed type layout was significantly better, for most of the day, than the parallel type layout.

Highlights

Residential areas are the basic unit, and a fundamental component, of urban space
Researchers have suggested that natural ventilation and a comfortable thermal environment in outdoor spaces can greatly improve the livability and vitality of residential areas [1,2,3]
The objectives of this study are to: (1) extract the typical residential building layout cases in a high temperature and high humidity region; (2) construct reliable numerical simulation models based on the typical residential building layouts; (3) compare the advantages and disadvantages of microclimate in different typical residential building layouts; and (4) propose measures to improve microclimates in a high temperature and high humidity region

Summary

Introduction

Residential areas are the basic unit, and a fundamental component, of urban space. As the concentration of residents living increases, so too does the need for a high-quality microclimatic environment. Berkovic et al [8] compared the thermal comfort of three enclosed courtyards with different aspect ratios and concluded that the 2:1 courtyard, with its main axis pointing N–S, had the smallest amount of shade and was the most uncomfortable layout. It is difficult for the general study of microclimate based on simple building blocks to reflect the characteristics of residential building layout and its outdoor microclimate in different climate regions. A systematic study on the relationship between residential building layout and microclimates in high temperature and high humidity regions is necessary

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion