Simulation-Integrated Climate-Adaptive Pedestrian Design Explorations for Summer Thermal Comfort: The Case of Culturally Diversified Green Way Project in Seoul, South Korea

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of climate-adaptive pedestrian design through greening strategies by integrating microclimate simulations in central Seoul. Utilizing ENVI-met 5.0, five pedestrian street typologies along the “Cultural Complex Axis” in central Seoul were analyzed for their thermal environments before and after greening interventions. Results indicate that pedestrian greening improves thermal comfort across all sites, though cooling effects vary significantly with site-specific urban morphology and microclimatic factors such as wind flow. Notably, Hyehwa-ro exhibited the greatest reduction in Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) despite a modest increase in greenery, underscoring that cooling efficiency depends on more than vegetation quantity alone. Conversely, Jangchungdan-ro, with greater green coverage, observed diminished thermal improvements, which were mainly attributed to reduced wind velocity. The findings emphasize the need for context-sensitive, tailored greening approaches that particularly emphasize securing wind corridors and avoiding dense planting in narrow urban canyons to maximize cooling impacts. This study contributes by providing insights into both the research process and its outcomes through the exploration of thermal comfort simulations applied to a practical pedestrian renovation case.