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Abstract
This study discusses housing densification as a sustainable housing strategy. Furthermore, it investigates how housing densification can improve the shading performance of open spaces with respect to row-house typology. The analysis considers a real-time case study of linear courtyards enclosed by row houses. Urban analysis was followed by a numerical shading analysis to examine the impact of housing attachment method (aligned or stepped) on courtyard shading potential. Row houses were found to be an acceptable housing densification solution in Saudi Arabia, with well-integrated open spaces. The stepped-attached housing pattern showed a higher potential for urban shading (by ~55% with an east–west orientation of row houses) than that of the aligned–attached pattern. In addition, the stepped-attached housing pattern improved the visual quality and created a serial visual effect. This study recommends the promotion of compact housing patterns in Saudi Arabia to reduce the rapidly increasing domestic electrical-energy demand and improve urban shading. Housing densification is considered as an effective passive design and planning strategy for this purpose.
Highlights
One main aspect of sustainable cities is to provide a healthy urban environment that helps improve the quality of life of their inhabitants
To advance the current research in this field, our study investigates the potential impact of row houses on enhancing urban shading under the urban and climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia
To advance the current research in this field, the present study investigates the potential impact of urban densification on urban-shading enhancement, considering row-house typology under the urban and climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia
Summary
One main aspect of sustainable cities is to provide a healthy urban environment that helps improve the quality of life of their inhabitants. The way we plan and design our cities is believed to strongly affect our social well-being. There is limited public awareness in this regard, and several sociocultural barriers to implementing sustainability in the housing sector [2]. This includes the exaggerated housing-unit area, which is 625 m2 in Saudi Arabia on average. This unnecessary space increases domestic energy consumption and CO2 emissions [3].
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