Integrated Considerations of Thermal Comfort, Daylight Comfort and Outdoor Microclimate in Medium Density Housing (MDH) Development
Date
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Emerald
Abstract
Purpose Medium-density housing (MDH) development has emerged as a promising sustainable response, as it aims to maintain good quality of life while embracing increased development to accommodate the growing population in urban and suburban areas across the globe. Of the many contributors to quality of life, good indoor thermal comfort and daylight are important aspects; however, research has shown that the microclimate plays a key role in establishing the indoor conditions. Furthermore, an integrated approach considering the nuances between the three conditions is imperative for quality insight. This paper reviews existing research on MDH that discusses the microclimate, thermal comfort and daylight comfort aspects to construct the current knowledge and identify trends. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of articles on MDH development that discusses microclimate, thermal comfort and daylight, collectively or in pairs are analyzed. The research papers are synthesized and divided based on themes. The themes are issues, solutions, methodological choices and location. This is followed by analysis on the findings from the themes, supported with wider research to provide critical insights. Findings The analysis indicates that multivariate research considering three-way interaction between microclimate, indoor thermal comfort and daylight in MDH is relatively new. Further, huge variance is observed within themes, indicating differences in priorities across geographies. The findings imply the need for more nuanced research undertaking in MDH in the comfort conditions identified, as MDH have evolved into a preferred development model in cities, and it is important that such development support health and well-being considering climate change. Originality/value There is no prior research on the nexus of microclimate, indoor thermal comfort and daylight in MDH development. While also contributing to better understanding the current research landscape, this research underscores its relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).Description
Source
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, ISSN: 2046-6099 (Print); 2046-6102 (Online), Emerald, 1-25. doi: 10.1108/sasbe-05-2025-0286
Rights statement
© Deependra Pourel, Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini, Ali GhaffarianHoseini and Nicola Naismith
Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.