Microclimatic Landscape Architecture: From Theory to Application

Abstract

Global climate change and urban heat island intensification are making many cities dangerously hot during heat waves. There is a need for a clear process for applying microclimate information in urban design to create cooler cities. A recent paper points out the gaps in research methodology and suggests the need for implementation-oriented research. It suggests action steps to take research from theory to practice. The framework has five steps, and in our paper, we have addressed four of those steps: (1) understanding the needs of designers; (2) integrated research on urban microclimate factors; (3) development of guidance methods for better design; and (4) developing user-friendly tools. To address the first step, a group of Chinese landscape architects was given a questionnaire and it was found that they perceived principles and guidelines as being the most useful microclimatic design methods. The second step was addressed through a case study with on-site measurements and modeling. In step 3, microclimate information was used to redesign the site. The process that followed addressed the fourth step by illustrating user-friendly tools.