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Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme...
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Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 3295

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sheng Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Interests: low-carbon city and green building design; building performance simulation and optimization; urban microclimate and urban building energy modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yingzi Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Interests: urban microclimate; green building design; green city design; architectural design

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing global temperature has been identified as a key driver of the rise in extreme weather conditions observed in recent years. Events such as heatwaves and cold snaps can cause power outages and failures in energy systems, which cut the required heating and cooling energy supplies for buildings. Furthermore, these extreme conditions can negatively impact the productivity, health, and well-being of occupants. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that both the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events are projected to increase in the future. In light of these trends, it is imperative to enhance the resilience of cities and buildings to ensure their functionality and comfort under such conditions. The development of climate-resilient technologies, approaches, and design strategies offers promising pathways for assessing the impacts of extreme weather on the built environment and adapting to these challenges. These advancements can further inform architectural and urban planning practices to better address the demands of a changing climate. We wholeheartedly welcome papers on related topics including, but not limited to the following:

  1. Climate-resilient architecture and urban planning solutions;
  2. Energy-efficient and climate resilient building solutions;
  3. Urban microclimate and extreme heat/cold adaptation strategies;
  4. Heat-health risk assessment of cities;
  5. Practices of climate-resilient buildings and cities;
  6. Climate-resilient materials and construction methods;
  7. Smart technologies for resilience and sustainability;
  8. Policy and governance strategies to promote climate-resilience;
  9. Enhancing the resilience of urban energy systems.

Dr. Sheng Liu
Prof. Dr. Yingzi Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate-resilient cities
  • climate-resilient buildings
  • extreme hot/cold events
  • low-carbon buildings and cities
  • architectural and urban planning practices
  • urban microclimate
  • building energy efficiency

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 6857 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Coupling and Forecasting of Construction Industry High-Quality Development and Human Settlements Environmental Suitability in Southern China: Evidence from 15 Provincial Panel Data
by Keliang Chen, Bo Chen and Wanqing Chen
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2425; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142425 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 227
Abstract
High-quality growth of the construction industry and an improved human settlements environment are essential to sustainable urbanization. Existing studies have paid limited systematic attention to the spatial and temporal dynamics of the coordinated development between the construction industry and human settlements, as well [...] Read more.
High-quality growth of the construction industry and an improved human settlements environment are essential to sustainable urbanization. Existing studies have paid limited systematic attention to the spatial and temporal dynamics of the coordinated development between the construction industry and human settlements, as well as the underlying factors driving regional disparities. This gap restricts the formulation of precise, differentiated sustainable policies tailored to regions at different development stages and with varying resource endowments. Southern China, characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity and unique development trends, offers a natural laboratory for examining the spatio-temporal interaction between these two dimensions. Using panel data for 15 southern provinces (2013–2022), we applied the entropy method, coupling coordination model, Dagum Gini coefficient, spatial trend surface analysis, gravity model, and grey forecasting to evaluate current conditions and predict future trends. The main findings are as follows. (1) The coupling coordination degree rose steadily, forming a stepped spatial pattern from the southwest through the center to the southeast. (2) The coupling coordination degree appears obvious polarization effect, presenting a spatial linkage pattern with Jiangsu-Shanghai-Zhejiang, Hubei-Hunan-Jiangxi, and Sichuan-Chongqing as the core of the three major clusters. (3) The overall Dagum Gini coefficient declined, but intra-regional disparities persisted: values were highest in the southeast, moderate in the center, and lowest in the southwest; inter-regional differences dominated the total inequality. (4) Forecasts for 2023–2027 suggest further improvement in the coupling coordination degree, yet spatial divergence will widen, creating a configuration of “eastern leadership, central catch-up acceleration, and differentiated southwestern development.” This study provides an evidence base for policies that foster high-quality construction sector growth and enhance the living environment. The findings of this study indicate that policymaking should prioritize promoting synergistic regional development, enhancing the radiating and driving role of core regions, and establishing a multi-level coordinated governance mechanism to bridge regional disparities and foster more balanced and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather)
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18 pages, 17268 KiB  
Article
Renovation Methods for Atrium-Style Educational Buildings Based on Thermal Environment Testing in Cold Regions of China
by Kunming Li, Xiao Liu, Jian Ma, Zhongxun Li and Hua Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 2077; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15122077 - 17 Jun 2025
Viewed by 316
Abstract
While cold regions in China experience harsh winters, their summers also present significant overheating challenges in atrium-style buildings due to excessive solar gain. This study investigates the thermal environment of a non-ventilated atrium educational building located in a cold region of China, with [...] Read more.
While cold regions in China experience harsh winters, their summers also present significant overheating challenges in atrium-style buildings due to excessive solar gain. This study investigates the thermal environment of a non-ventilated atrium educational building located in a cold region of China, with tests conducted throughout the four seasons. The findings indicate that the atrium temperature is 1.7 °C, 1.1 °C, and 1.7 °C lower than that of the inner corridor during spring, autumn, and winter, respectively, but 0.6 °C higher in summer. From 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on summer days, north-facing rooms with horizontal shading are 0.5 °C warmer than those facing south. A retrofit strategy that combines ventilated atrium shading with north-facing vertical shading is proposed, leading to a 0.7 °C reduction in atrium temperature and a 9.4% decrease in summer air conditioning energy consumption. Additionally, this study develops a retrofit framework for existing buildings, encompassing scope definition, diagnostics, strategy formulation, and evaluation to support high-quality renovations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather)
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22 pages, 8570 KiB  
Article
Study on the Impact of Design Parameters of Photovoltaic Combined Vacuum Glazing (PVCVG) on the Energy Consumption of Buildings in Lhasa
by Luyang Zhong, Dan Wu, Bo Zhang, Lixing Chen, Yibing Xie, Yingzi Zhang and Xinchun Liang
Buildings 2025, 15(4), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040649 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 656
Abstract
The synergistic active-passive utilization of solar energy in buildings plays an important role in achieving nearly zero-energy buildings. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is a crucial initiative to reduce heating energy consumption, especially in cold climate zones with abundant solar radiation. However, few studies have [...] Read more.
The synergistic active-passive utilization of solar energy in buildings plays an important role in achieving nearly zero-energy buildings. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) is a crucial initiative to reduce heating energy consumption, especially in cold climate zones with abundant solar radiation. However, few studies have examined the impact of design parameters of photovoltaic combined vacuum glazing (PVCVG) on building energy efficiency in Lhasa. This study assessed the energy performance of several typical windows and PVCVG with various Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) design conditions and investigated how the WWR and orientation of PVCVG influence energy consumption using DesignBuilder7.0 software. The findings indicate that PVCVG exhibits great energy-saving potential in Lhasa, with both orientation and WWR of PVCVG substantially affecting energy consumption. Specifically, when the south-facing WWR exceeds 40%, the energy generated by the three kinds of PV windows can meet the building’s requirements. The optimal orientation for PVCVG is southward, followed by east and west orientations. PVCVG reaches optimal energy satisfaction when the south WWR is 85%. This study is expected to provide useful information for improving energy use efficiency in cold climate zones with abundant solar radiation and promoting sustainable building development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather)
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Review

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42 pages, 2459 KiB  
Review
Climate-Responsive Design of Photovoltaic Façades in Hot Climates: Materials, Technologies, and Implementation Strategies
by Xiaohui Wu, Yanfeng Wang, Shile Deng and Ping Su
Buildings 2025, 15(10), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101648 - 14 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
With the intensification of global climate change, buildings in hot climate zones face increasing challenges related to high energy consumption and thermal comfort. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades, which combine power generation and energy saving potential, require further optimization in their climate-adaptive design. [...] Read more.
With the intensification of global climate change, buildings in hot climate zones face increasing challenges related to high energy consumption and thermal comfort. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façades, which combine power generation and energy saving potential, require further optimization in their climate-adaptive design. Most existing studies primarily focus on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of PV modules, yet there is a lack of systematic analysis of the coupled effects of temperature, humidity, and solar radiation intensity on PV performance. Moreover, the current literature rarely addresses the regional material degradation patterns, integrated cooling solutions, or intelligent control systems suitable for hot and humid climates. There is also a lack of practical, climate specific design guidelines that connect theoretical technologies with real world applications. This paper systematically reviews BIPV façade design strategies following a climate zoning framework, summarizing research progress from 2019 to 2025 in the areas of material innovation, thermal management, light regulation strategies, and parametric design. A climate responsive strategy is proposed to address the distinct challenges of humid hot and dry hot climates. Finally, this study discusses the barriers and challenges of BIPV system applications in hot climates and highlights future research directions. Unlike previous reviews, this paper offers a multi-dimensional synthesis that integrates climatic classification, material suitability, passive and active cooling strategies, and intelligent optimization technologies. It further provides regionally differentiated recommendations for façade design and outlines a unified framework to guide future research and practical deployment of BIPV systems in hot climates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilient Cities: Architecture and Urban Planning for Combating Extreme Hot and Cold Weather)
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