This chapter describes measures and presents details related to the living environment in public space and adjacent buildings.
Many factors determine the quality of local living conditions, but in this publication it has been decided, for the time being, to focus on measures in public space that limit heat stress and drought. This problem has become a priority after the heat waves of 2018 and 2019, and it will occur more frequently as a result of climate change. In the summer, cities run the risk of becoming ‘heat islands’ as a result of the local concentration of concrete, stone, asphalt, steel, glass, traffic and air conditioners. As a result, heat builds up and temperatures reach uncomfortable or even dangerous levels.
The measures presented here concern relatively simple yet effective measures to cool public space and building envelopes. Planting more greenery and trees is a good example because they provide shade and evaporate water, thereby lowering the wind-chill factor and air temperature. But the greening of roofs and facades and the use of light-coloured building materials, solar shading and water features, arcades and wind corridors are also effective. Such measures make use of four cooling mechanisms that are possible in the city: evaporation, shading, reflection and cooling airflows.
English version can be downloaded below.
Table of content:
Whole Area / WA
L-WA1 Limiting hard surfacing
Network / NE
L-NE1 Shade along roads and waterways
Public Space / PS
L-PS1 Shade by roofing or greenery
L-PS2 Cooling airflow in public space
L-PS3 Cooling through evaporation
L-PS4 Reducing heat radiation in public space
Site / ST
L-ST1 Shade from permanent site boundary
L-ST2 Cooling airflow on site
L-ST3 Green site boundary
Building / BD
L-BD1 Shade from building volumes
L-BD2 Cool building envelope from evaporation
L-BD3 Reducing heat radiation building