The Effect of Open Space Design Conformation on Thermal Comfort for Hot Arid Climate

Abstract

Designing urban open spaces, which affect outdoor activities, social connections, tourism, well-being, and health, must consider outdoor thermal comfort. In this study, which used a university building in Iraq as an example of a hot, arid area, open space design conformation's impact on thermal comfort was examined; the methodology depends on choosing a case study sample in Baghdad city. The simulation is based on (the ENVI-MET version 5.02) software program. The proposed design conformation includes changes in building façade materials, vegetation cover, and floor materials. The results showed that the design conformation improves the climatic elements (air temperatures, relative humidity, wind speed), and thermal comfort.  The results showed a decrease in the temperature almost to 0.2 ℃, the relative humidity was increased by about 0.2%, the outdoor thermal comfort coefficient was reduced by about 0.3 degrees, and the speed of the hot wind has been reduced by about 0.9 degrees.