Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
The multifaceted nature and interwoven structure of urban biophysical needs have caused solutions intended to improve microclimatic comfort—particularly in dense areas—to lead to unpredictable outcomes accompanied by a degree of uncertainty. In fact, environmental comfort in urban spaces is a complex function shaped by the interaction of multiple environmental parameters. This study examines the hypothesis that urban interventions aimed at optimizing a single comfort factor (such as reducing temperature) may, due to contradictory behaviors and chain effects, worsen other dimensions of comfort or even reduce overall comfort. Focusing on the behavior of common structural elements in urban blocks in relation to the three key factors — temperature, wind speed, and pressure‑related environmental effects — and their interactions within urban environments, this research shows that maximizing one comfort parameter can disrupt other comfort aspects. Thus, designs based on improving microclimatic conditions require a multi‑objective optimization approach rather than relying on minimum/maximum thresholds in order to achieve stable comfort conditions. The results of computational fluid dynamics simulations indicate that fundamental changes in the volume and primary form of urban blocks — by shaping microclimates and influencing wind‑flow dynamics and shadow distribution — can improve multi‑dimensional comfort conditions by up to 70 percent. In contrast, more limited façade‑level interventions (such as adding elements or creating openings in the volume) contribute only up to 40 percent to comprehensive comfort improvements. This disparity underscores the need for a strategic urban design approach that can resolve contradictory behaviors among factors such as temperature, wind speed, and pressure effects.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)