URBAN FACADE GEOMETRY ON OUTDOOR COMFORT CONDITIONS: A REVIEW

Abstract

Designing urban facades is considered as a major factor influencing issuessuch as natural ventilation of buildings and urban areas, radiations in theurban canyon for designing low-energy buildings, cooling demand forbuildings in urban area, and thermal comfort in urban streets. However, sofar, most studies on urban topics have been focused on flat facadeswithout details of urban layouts. Hence, the effect of urban facades withdetails such as the balcony and corbelling on thermal comfort conditionsand air flow behavior are discussed in this literature review. Aim: Thisstudy was carried out to investigate the effective factors of urban facades,including the effects of building configuration, geometry and urbancanyon’s orientation. Methodology and Results: According to the results,the air flow behavior is affected by a wide range of factors such as windconditions, urban geometry and wind direction. Urban façade geometrycan change outdoor air flow pattern, thermal comfort and solar access.Conclusion, significance and impact study: In particular, the geometry ofthe facade, such as indentation and protrusion, has a significant effect onthe air flow and thermal behavior in urban facades and can enhanceoutdoor comfort conditions. Also, Alternation in façade geometry canaffect pedestrians' comfort and buildings energy demands.