Title: The study of summer-time heat island, built form and fabric in a densely built urban environment in compact Chinese cities: Hong Kong, Guangzhou

Authors: Stephen Siu Yu Lau, Feng Yang, Joyce Tai, Xiao Ling Wu, Jun Wang

Addresses: Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. ' College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), Tongji University, 1239, Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China. ' Research Bureau, Room 202, Old Library Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. ' The Guangzhou Management Office for The Innovations of Wall Materials and Energy Efficiency of Building, 20th Floor, Block B, Jinxin Building, No. 691 Renminbei Rd, Guangzhou 510000, China. ' Center for Sustainable Asian Cities, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, 117566 Singapore

Abstract: The authors investigated the environmental disaffects of the mixed and intensive land-use (MILU) urban model that are responsible for the high-rise and high-densities cities of Asia. The compact urban form is associated with environmental consequences such as worsen canyon geometry due to close proximity of built form and urban fabric. Canyons are responsible for the worsening of urban microclimate and aggravation of heat island intensity on building energy consumption. In this study, field measurements of microclimatic conditions due to MILU developments were taken at strategic outdoor locations of concentrated residential areas during the summer months of 2006 and 2007 respectively. It considered and discussed the consequences of design-related variables of open spaces and their effects on the outdoor thermal environment under various high-rise, high-density urban settings. Discussion was made of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, which share a subtropical climate with hot temperatures, but different relative humidity, during the summer months.

Keywords: Hong Kong; Guangzhou; heat islands; high-rise cities; high-density cities; environmental impact; canyon geometry; urban microclimate; building energy consumption; subtropical climate; hot temperatures; relative humidity; built form; urban fabric; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2011.039636

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2011 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.30 - 48

Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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