A Review of Climate Change Adaptive Measures in Architecture Within Temperate Climate Zones

Abstract

Since a large portion of greenhouse gases are emitted by the building sector, there has been a push towards sustainable low energy architecture, which could help mitigate the effects of climate change. Although climate change is considered inevitable, adaptive measures must be taken in the field of architecture to alleviate its impact. Creating an overview of the state of the art in the field of architecture as it adapts to climate change will help identify the problems and possibilities of architectural adaptation. The aim must be to create buildings that are as suitable to the current climate as they are to the climate of the future and maintain an ability to resist the impacts of climate change; this ability to resist potential change is defined as adaptive capacity. It is challenging to reconcile the energy requirements for contemporary buildings with rising temperatures and extreme weather in temperate climate zones. The literature on the subject is explored through iterative searches in scientific databases. In discussions about the possible adaptations to climate change, there needs to be a focus on human adaptation facilitated by architecture and the built environment’s utilization and support of ecosystem services in adaptation strategies, since the scope of climate change reaches beyond the singular building. There are plenty of strategies and technologies from which to draw but little focus on how these should support the design of a building and its inhabitants. In the future it will be necessary to look at the adaptive capacity of a building itself and how the building can benefit its surroundings.

The practices of heat adaptation among elderly in Dezful: A qualitative study

“…[ 50 ] This adaptation, which includes the application of strategies in the architecture of buildings, seeks to protect the building from external influences to create a stable indoor environment for the satisfaction of residents against heat. [ 51 ] Some other studies show that the properties of heat stress resistance in buildings as a science have not been given enough attention. [ 52 53 ] Therefore, the need for further studies in this area and the application of long-term development strategies are recommended.…”

Climate change preparedness across sectors of the built environment – A review of literature

“…Design responses include proposals responding to sea-level rise and flood adaptation (English et al 2016;Moosa et al 2020) and increasing heatwaves (Kinnane et al 2016). A review of adaptation measures within architecture Poulsen et al (2020) highlight the use of regenerative design, passive and active design, and green building elements (green roofs/walls) for adapting to extreme weather events and climate change. The majority of these design responses are reported as conceptual, examining the potential performance of the design and how they perform under future climate scenarios.…”