Search Results (121)

Natural ventilation could be established as an effective passive design strategy for increasing air changes per hour in a built environment. Modern air conditioning systems often fail to provide sufficient fresh air, potentially causing health issues for occupants. In contrast, natural ventilation offers an effective alternative for maintaining sufficient indoor air quality in buildings. This study explores the application of grouped airfoil arrays on building façades as an innovative passive design to enhance the air change rate. Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze various airfoil configurations, determining the most effective design for building a façade. Three groups, including symmetrical, semi-symmetrical, and flat-bottomed grouped airfoils, were selected according to their aerodynamic properties and potential impacts on airflow dynamics. For this purpose, a typical high-rise residential building was selected as a case study for field measurement and CFD simulation. The results indicated that symmetrical airfoil arrays could increase the air changes per hour (ACH) up to 23 times per hour with a wind velocity of 0.37 m/s at 10 m above ground, whereas their bidirectional performance ensured stable airflow regardless of wind direction. Although semi-symmetrical airfoil arrays maximize air capture and induce beneficial turbulence, the ACH within a residential unit was boosted up to 16 times per hour under the same outdoor wind velocity conditions. The ACH was 14 times per hour for the flat-bottom airfoils, serving as a comparative baseline and providing insights into the performance advantages of more complex designs. Full article

Tropical regions experience intense and highly variable solar radiation, often resulting in excessive indoor illuminance, uneven daylight distribution, and visual discomfort in high-rise residential buildings. This study investigates the daylighting performance of various external horizontal slat configurations as a shading strategy for east- and south-facing rooms in a typical high-rise apartment under both intermediate sky with sun and overcast sky conditions. Using IESVE simulations, ten shading device (SD) configurations (SD 1–SD 10) were evaluated for their impact on daylight illuminance and distribution uniformity. Results show that high-rise apartment room with a commonly used overhang provided poor daylighting quality, with excessive illuminance and low distribution uniformity. SD 10 and SD 9 achieved the best performance at 09:00 and 12:00, respectively, for east-facing rooms across design days, while SD 10 was optimal for south-facing rooms on both 21 March and 22 December. Under overcast sky conditions, SD 9 demonstrated superior performance. This study proposes a novel adaptive external shading device featuring adjustable horizontal slats that can be reconfigured throughout the day to respond to changing solar positions and sky conditions. This approach overcomes the limitations of fixed shading systems by adapting to dynamic tropical sky conditions, offering a practical solution for enhancing daylight quality in tropical high-rise apartments. The findings provide design guidance for the development of energy-efficient shading, climate-responsive shading systems tailored to tropical environments. Full article

Housing sustainability is a cornerstone element of sustainable economic and social development. This is particularly true for China, where high-rise residential buildings are the primary form of housing. In recent years, China has experienced frequent housing-related accidents, resulting in a significant loss of life and property damage. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing housing sustainability and provide a basis for the prevention and control of housing-related safety risks. This study has developed a housing sustainability evaluation indicator system comprising three primary indicators and 16 secondary indicators. This system is based on an analysis of the causes of over 500 typical housing accidents that occurred in China over the past 10 years, employing research methods such as literature reviews and expert consultations, and drawing on the analytical frameworks of risk management theory and system safety theory. Subsequently, the NK-SNA model, which significantly outperforms traditional models in terms of adaptive learning and optimization, as well as the explicit modeling of complex nonlinear relationships, was used to identify the key risk factors affecting housing sustainability. The empirical results indicate that the risk coupling value is correlated with the number of risk coupling factors; the greater the number of risk coupling factors, the larger the coupling value. Human misconduct is prone to forming two-factor risk coupling with housing, and the physical risk factors are prone to coupling with other factors. The environmental factors easily trigger ‘physical–environmental’ two-factor risk coupling. The key factors influencing housing sustainability are poor supervision, building facilities, the main structure, the housing height, foundation settlement, and natural disasters. On this basis, recommendations are made to make full use of modern information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence to strengthen the supervision of housing safety and avoid multi-factor coupling, and to improve upon early warnings of natural disasters and the design of emergency response programs to control the coupling between physical and environmental factors. Full article

Over recent decades, phase-change materials (PCMs) have gained prominence as latent-heat thermal energy storage systems in building envelopes because of their high energy density. However, only PCMs that complete a full daily charge–discharge cycle can deliver meaningful energy and carbon-emission savings. This simulation study introduces a methodology that simultaneously optimizes PCM integration for storage efficiency, indoor thermal comfort, and energy savings. Two new indicators are proposed: overall storage efficiency (EC_n), which consolidates heating and cooling-efficiency ratios into a single value, and the performance factor (PF), which quantifies the PCM’s effectiveness in maintaining thermal comfort. Using EnergyPlus v8.9 coupled with DesignBuilder, a residential ASHRAE 90.1 mid-rise apartment was modeled in six warm-temperate (Cfb) European cities for the summer period from June 1 to August 31. Four paraffin PCMs (RT-22/25/28/31 HC, 20 mm thickness) were tested under natural and controlled ventilation strategies, with windows opening 50% when outdoor air was at least 2 °C cooler than indoors. Simulation outputs were validated against experimental cubicle data, yielding a mean absolute indoor temperature error ≤ 4.5%, well within the ±5% tolerance commonly accepted for building thermal simulations. The optimum configuration—RT-25 HC with temperature-controlled ventilation—achieved PF = 1.0 (100% comfort compliance) in all six cities and delivered summer cooling-energy savings of up to 3376 kWh in Paris, the highest among the locations studied. Carbon-emission reductions reached 2254 kg CO₂-e year⁻¹, and static payback periods remained below the assumed 50-year building life at a per kg PCM cost of USD 1. The EC_n–PF framework, therefore, provides a transparent basis for selecting cost-effective, energy-efficient, and low-carbon PCM solutions in warm-temperate buildings. Full article

The present study was motivated by the need to enhance indoor air quality and reduce airborne disease transmission in dense urban environments where high-rise residential buildings face challenges in achieving effective natural ventilation. The problem lies in the lack of scalable and convenient tools to optimize natural ventilation rate, particularly in urban settings with varying building heights. To address this, the scientific technique developed with an innovative metric, the urbanized natural ventilation effectiveness factor (uNVeF), integrates regression analysis of wind direction, velocity, air change rate per hour (ACH), window configurations, and building height to quantify ventilation efficiency. By employing a field measurement methodology, the measurements were conducted across 25 window-opening scenarios in a 13.9 m² residential unit on the 35/F of a Hong Kong public housing building, supplemented by the Hellman Exponential Law with a site-specific friction coefficient (0.2907, R² = 0.9232) to estimate the lower floor natural ventilation rate. The results confirm compliance with Hong Kong’s statutory 1.5 ACH requirement (Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers, and Registered Geotechnical Engineers) and achieving a peak ACH at a uNVeF of 0.953 with 75% window opening. The results also revealed that lower floors can maintain 1.5 ACH with adjusted window configurations. Using the Wells–Riley model, the estimation results indicated significant airborne disease infection risk reductions of 96.1% at 35/F and 93.4% at 1/F compared to the 1.5 ACH baseline which demonstrates a strong correlation between ACH, uNVeF and infection risks. The uNVeF framework offers a practical approach to optimize natural ventilation and provides actionable guidelines, together with future research on the scope of validity to refine this technique for residents and developers. The implications in the building industry include setting up sustainable design standards, enhancing public health resilience, supporting policy frameworks for energy-efficient urban planning, and potentially driving innovation in high-rise residential construction and retrofitting globally. Full article

This research presents a multi-scale framework designed for assessing the energy performance and climate vulnerability of three existing residential buildings in a small Central Italian municipality. By integrating dynamic energy simulations with high-resolution climate projections, the study investigated how the selected building typologies responded to changing environmental conditions. Validation against Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) confirmed the framework’s robustness in accurately capturing energy consumption patterns and assessing retrofit potential. The results revealed a general reduction in heating demand accompanied by an increase in cooling requirements under future climate scenarios, with notable differences across building types. The reinforced concrete building showed greater sensitivity to rising temperatures, particularly in cooling demand, likely due to its lower thermal inertia. In contrast, masonry buildings achieved more substantial energy savings following retrofit interventions, reflecting their initially poorer thermal performance and outdated systems. Retrofit measures yielded significant energy reductions, especially in older masonry structures, with savings reaching up to 44%, underscoring the necessity of customised retrofit strategies. The validated methodology supports future wider applicability in regional energy planning and aligns with integrated initiatives aimed at balancing climate adaptation and cultural heritage preservation. Full article

The rapid urbanization and technological advancements in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have placed its modern architectural heritage from the 1970s and 1980s at increasing risk of being unrecognized and lost, particularly in Dubai following the discovery of oil. This research addresses the critical need for the documentation and heritage representation of Dubai’s modern heritage, a city undergoing rapid transformation within a globalized urban landscape. Focusing on the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building (Toyota Building), an iconic early 1970s residential high-rise representing the modern architecture of Dubai and a significant milestone in its architectural history, this study explores a replicable and cost-effective approach to digitally document and conserve urban heritage under threat. The existing building was meticulously documented and analyzed to highlight its enduring value within the fast-changing urban fabric. Through the innovative combination of drone photography, ground-based photography, and HBIM, a high-resolution 3D model and a semantically organized HBIM prototype were generated. This research demonstrates a replicable measure for identifying architectural values, understanding modernist design typologies, and raising local community awareness about Dubai’s modern heritage. Ultimately, this study contributes toward developing recognition criteria and guiding efforts in documenting modern high-rise buildings as vital heritage worthy of recognition, documentation, and future conservation in the UAE. Full article

The spatial layout of residential communities has a significant impact on the local microclimate. These microclimate changes subtly affect the daily feelings and health status of residents. This study takes hypertension as a case to simulate the outdoor microclimate characteristics of different types of communities, and to analyze the potential correlation between spatial design and the health of residents, providing a scientific basis for the design of health-oriented communities. Initially, the microclimate characteristics of communities are obtained through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Subsequently, the correlation between the outdoor microclimate and the incidence of hypertension in communities is discussed. The study area covers communities within a 4 km radius of Zhongnan hospital. The results indicate that microclimatic factors, such as temperature, Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), are significantly negatively correlated with the incidence of hypertension in communities of different building heights. For temperature, the absolute value of the correlation coefficient for multi-story communities is 0.431, slightly lower for mid-rise communities at 0.323, and further drops to 0.296 for high-rise communities. Correspondingly, the values for PMV are 0.434, 0.336, and 0.306, respectively. The values for UTCI are 0.442, 0.310, and 0.303, respectively. This effect gradually weakens as building heights increase. Fluctuations in wind speed appear to weakly influence the incidence of hypertension. These results provide a scientific basis for health-oriented urban planning. Full article

The design and construction of adaptive façades have garnered increasing attention as a means to enhance the energy performance and sustainability of high-rise residential buildings. Adaptive façades can dynamically respond to environmental conditions, reducing reliance on energy-intensive systems and improving occupant comfort. Despite their potential, research on adaptive façade systems in the context of high-rise residential buildings, particularly in Australia, remains limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by identifying the key design parameters, challenges, and optimisation methods for adaptive façades. Through a combination of a comprehensive literature review and 15 semi-structured interviews with industry experts, this research provides insights into the design and performance of adaptive façades. The key findings reveal that the successful implementation of adaptive façades depends on a range of factors, including material choices, shading system typologies, and advanced simulation tools for energy performance analysis. A significant outcome of the study is the development of a conceptual framework that incorporates these design elements with environmental factors and building energy simulation, offering a structured approach to optimise adaptive façade performance. The framework assists architects and engineers in creating energy-efficient, sustainable high-rise residential buildings tailored to the Australian context. Additionally, the study highlights critical challenges, such as financial barriers, regulatory gaps, and the need for improved maintenance strategies, which must be addressed to facilitate the broader adoption of adaptive façades in the residential sector. Full article

Countries worldwide have implemented regulations on the green coverage ratio of new buildings to address the urban heat island effect. For example, Taipei City mandates that the green coverage rate of new buildings must be between 40% and 70%, while Singapore requires a green coverage rate of 100% or higher. Consequently, building greening is now a regulatory requirement rather than a preference. This study focuses on developing an indoor light-emitting-diode (LED) hydroponic inverted planting system to utilize ceiling space for expanding green areas in buildings. The light source of this system is suitable for both plant growth and daily lighting, thereby reducing electricity costs. The watertight planting unit does not require replenishment of the nutrient solution during a planting cycle for small plants, which can reduce water consumption and prevent indoor humidity. The modular structure allows various combinations, enabling interior designers to create interior ceiling scapes. Additionally, it is possible to grow aromatic plants and edible vegetables, facilitating the creation of indoor farms. Consequently, this system is suitable for high-rise residential buildings, office buildings, underground shopping malls, and indoor areas with limited or no natural light. It is also applicable to hospitals, clinics, wards, and care centers, where indoor plants alleviate psychological stress and enhance mental and physical health. Full article

While urban greenery is known to regulate microclimates and reduce air pollution, its integrated effects remain insufficiently quantified. Through field monitoring and ENVI-met 5.1 modeling of high-rise residential areas in Jinan, the results demonstrate that: (1) vegetation exhibits distinct spatial impacts in air-quality impacts, reducing roadside PM_2.5 by 26.63 μg/m³ while increasing building-adjacent levels by 17.5 μg/m³; (2) shrubs outperformed trees in PM_2.5 reduction (up to 65.34%), particularly when planted in inner rows, whereas tree crown morphology and spacing showed negligible effects; (3) densely spaced columnar trees optimize cooling, reducing T_a by 3–4.8 °C and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET*) by 8–12.8 °C, while planting trees on the outer row and shrubs on the inner row best balanced thermal and air-quality improvements; (4) each 1 m²/m³ leaf area density (LAD) increase yields thermal benefits (ΔT_a = −1.07 °C, ΔPET* = −1.93 °C) but elevates PM_2.5 by 4.32 μg/m³. These findings provide evidence-based vegetation design strategies for sustainable urban planning. Full article

Rising temperatures are intensifying residential cooling demands in hot–arid regions, with national building codes playing a pivotal role in mitigating these effects. This study evaluates the energy performance of two high-density residential buildings, Noor City in Cairo and Banan City in Riyadh, using DesignBuilder version 7.0.2.006 simulations for 2023, 2050, and 2080 under RCP 4.5 projections, followed by comparative and code-swapping analysis that assessed the role of envelope design parameters. All parameters were constant, except for those dictated by each country’s code. Results show that under future climate conditions, cooling loads in the uninsulated Noor City rise by 69% by 2080, compared to a 32% increase in Banan City. A code-swapping analysis confirmed the regulatory impact; applying the Saudi envelope to Noor City reduced annual energy use by over 40%, while using the Egyptian code in Banan City increased it by more than 50%. Solar exposure analysis further revealed that Noor City’s unshaded façades contribute to elevated thermal loads. Additionally, a 20.48 kWp rooftop photovoltaic system offsets 32:35% of annual energy consumption in both cases. While operational benefits are evident, no full life cycle cost (LCC) analysis was conducted; future studies should address economic feasibility to guide code adaptation in lower-income contexts. Full article

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle, from material extraction to end-of-life, considering factors such as global warming, acidification, and toxicity. However, despite its significant health effects, noise has not yet been incorporated into the LCA. This study integrates noise impact into the LCA to assess and compare alternative structural designs for Australian high-rise residential and commercial buildings. Three scenarios were analysed: (1) reinforced concrete frames, (2) hybrid timber designs using engineered wood (e.g., cross-laminated timber and Glulam), and (3) steel-frame structures. The system boundary spans cradle to grave, with a 100-year lifespan. Material quantities were extracted from BIM software 2024 (Revit Architecture) for accuracy. The ReCiPe 2016 method converted inventory data into impact indicators, while noise impact was assessed using Highly Annoyed People (HAP) and Highly Sleep-Deprived People (HSDP). The results show that commercial buildings have more significant environmental impacts than residential structures due to their higher material usage. Steel frames generally exhibit the highest environmental impact, while concrete structures contribute most to noise effects. The total noise-integrated impact ranks as steel > concrete > timber. Additionally, noise accounts for up to 33% of the total impact on densely populated areas but remains negligible in low-population regions. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating noise into the LCA for a more holistic assessment of sustainable building designs. Full article

Macau’s aging communities face growing challenges in meeting the needs of older residents due to rising population density and extremely limited land resources. The concentration of outdated residential buildings—home to a substantial older adult population—exacerbates issues related to age-associated physical decline. For seniors who prefer familiar environments, the spatial constraints inherent in these densely built urban areas increasingly conflict with their specific gerontological needs, indicating the urgent need for urban renewal. This study employs a multi-methodological framework to examine aging populations in Macau’s high-density urban contexts. In Phase I, questionnaire surveys combined with SPSS 26.0-based cluster analysis are employed to (1) stratify older adults according to walking behavior patterns; (2) identify subgroup-specific needs and (3) establish key demographic correlates. Based on the socio-ecological framework, Phase II implements spatial analytics through ArcGIS demarcation of pedestrian catchment areas. This phase further integrates point-of-interest (POI) distribution analysis with space syntax-derived axial map evaluations to formulate typological mobility guidelines for different age cohorts. This study outlines the community walking space requirements of older adults in Macau and explores the influence of high-density community spaces on older adults. A practical evaluation method is proposed to assess age-friendly features of urban pathways, identifying the key environmental factors and their respective impacts. These preliminary findings may inform basic planning principles and adaptive design approaches for older adult-oriented pedestrian spaces. Full article

As part of the CAMaRSEC research project, long-term indoor environmental measurements with accompanying occupant surveys were conducted over one year in 49 households in 15 high-rise residential apartment buildings in Hanoi, Vietnam. A comprehensive analysis of the collected data revealed differences in the indoor environment and energy consumption patterns during the operational phase of the buildings, as well as their correlation with diverse occupant behaviors. In addition, by comparing subjective thermal evaluations based on occupant surveys with predictions based on comfort models, the limitations of existing models in predicting the thermal sensations of local people were identified. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the apartment building design standard in Vietnam underestimates the thermal adaptation of occupants, which may lead to significant building performance gaps. Larger scale surveys and measurements are required to provide sufficient databases to refine local building design standards, especially for mixed-mode buildings. Full article