A. Santos Nouri & João Pedro Costa
APA
Santos Nouri, A. & Costa, J. P. (1). Placemaking and climate change adaptation: new qualitative and quantitative considerations for the “Place Diagram”. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 10(3), 356–382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2017.1295096
Keywords
Climate Change Adaptation
,
Placemaking
,
Thermal Comfort
Abstract
Today, although most of the international research community considers climate change adaptation to be essential, there is limited knowledge on its concrete integration with contemporary placemaking. Yet, with the emergence of the adaptation agenda, the effects of urban climatology are continually coercing the need for concrete action to increase the climatic responsiveness of urban environments. This article is constructed upon a “Research for Design” approach, and focuses upon improving urban design guidelines by reviewing existing theoretical/empirical research on how pedestrian comfort levels can be addressed through public space design. The objective is to incorporate such qualitative and quantitative interrogations into a generic tool such as the “Place Diagram” by the PPS. A total of six intangible criteria, and six measurable attributes, are explored and structured in order to introduce new generic design considerations which can contribute to the responsiveness of urban outdoor spaces in an era of expected climate variability.
Main finding
This research finds that user based approaches to microclimates and prospective climate change can add to the constituents of a “successful” place in order to ascertain its future use and socio-economic prosperity and the triangulation between climate change, urban design and user-based approaches to adaptation can lead to the fortification of design guidelines in light of local risk factors. The authors propose addressing existing microclimatic implications in public space design more prominently and preparing for the results of potential climate change.
Description of method used in the article
This methodology focuses upon improving urban design guidelines by reviewing existing theoretical and empirical research with regards to how pedestrian comfort levels can be addressed through public space design and incorporating these questions into a generic tool such as the one used by the PPS.
Verdict
Policy implications