Numerical investigation of the wind and thermal conditions in sky gardens in high-rise buildings

Abstract

High-rise buildings are known to be highly energy intensive, adding stress on already stressed resources. Alternatively, designers are looking at passive strategies and investing in architectural elements, such as sky gardens, which could improve the performance of buildings. Sky gardens are green areas located in a building which are exposed to the outdoors. They could provide multifaceted improvements in buildings by introducing environmental benefits to occupants and altering microclimate. This study aims to determine the wind comfort and thermal condition in sky gardens in high-rise buildings using numerical modelling. Different geometrical configurations of sky gardens were simulated and analysed. Based on the initial results, the study reveals that sky gardens can generate high wind velocities of the order ∼10 m/s when located on a high-rise building. The addition of features such as trees and other architectural elements, which can act as a buffer, can help attenuate the high wind speeds and creating habitable spaces. The reduction varies 50%-80%, depending on the location and spatial domain of the sky garden. Furthermore, the study also investigated the reduction in air temperature due to the addition of trees, which can further reduce temperature in hot weather.