Enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in a historic marketplace: Integrating green, blue, and urban design strategies in hot arid climates

Souq Waqif, a historic marketplace in Doha, Qatar, is a prominent cultural and tourist destination that faces significant challenges in maintaining outdoor thermal comfort during the extreme summer months. This study investigates the potential of various heat mitigation strategies, focusing on the application of green and blue infrastructure, as well as complementary urban design interventions, to enhance the marketplace's thermal environment. A microclimate model of the marketplace was developed using ENVI-met V5.7.1, with the base case model validated spatially and temporally against field measurements. Various heat mitigation scenarios were then modeled, including: (1) green infrastructure, implementation of green roofs and the introduction of mature tree canopies; (2) blue infrastructure, addition of water misting systems and fountains; (3) adoption of cool materials for roofs and pavements; (4) adjustments to urban morphology, increasing the aspect ratio; and (5) the introduction of shading structures with openings for natural lighting across the alleys of the marketplace. Furthermore, several combinations of these heat mitigation scenarios were modeled and simulated to maximize cooling effects. The study evaluates the cooling potential of these strategies in improving outdoor thermal comfort. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated heat mitigation approaches in alleviating thermal stress, contributing to a more comfortable environment for visitors and residents, and ensuring the marketplace remains a viable and attractive destination even during peak summer months. This research provides a framework for climate-resilient urban design in hot arid regions, aligning with Qatar’s ambitions to host global events and sustain year-round tourism.

Acknowledgments:

Research reported in this work was supported by the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (Grant: ARG01-0503-230061). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council.