Urban Facade Geometry on Outdoor Comfort Conditions: A Review

Abstract

Designing urban facades is considered as a major factor influencing issues such as natural ventilation of buildings and urban areas, radiations in the urban canyon for designing low-energy buildings, cooling demand for buildings in urban area, and thermal comfort in urban streets. However, so far, most studies on urban topics have been focused on flat facades without details of urban layouts. Hence, the effect of urban facades with details such as the balcony and corbelling on thermal comfort conditions and air flow behavior are discussed in this literature review. This study was carried out to investigate the effective factors of urban facades, including the effects of building configuration, geometry and urban canyon’s orientation. According to the results, the air flow behavior is affected by a wide range of factors such as wind conditions, urban geometry and wind direction. Urban façade geometry can change outdoor air flow pattern, thermal comfort and solar access. In particular, the geometry of the facade, such as indentation and protrusion, have a significant effect on the air flow and thermal behavior in urban facades and can enhance outdoor comfort conditions. Also, Alternation in façade geometry can affect pedestrians' comfort and buildings energy demands.