Strategic Densification and Urban Planning: Enhancing Climate Resilience in Temperate Climates

As climate change impacts intensify, traditional urban designs based on historical weather patterns are becoming less effective. This paper explores the pivotal role of urban planning and strategic densification in creating climate-resilient communities, and how the Built Environment (BE) can mitigate climate change impacts, such as higher summertime air temperatures, promoting prolonged use of outdoor spaces, and lowering heat-related health hazards.

The waterfront development of Silk Towers in Batumi (Georgia) encompasses various building typologies, from tall and large to human-scale schemes, and extensive public grounds. It is designed to enhance the quality of everyday life for residents and offer a new public area for the local community and the entire city.

Despite Pedestrian Wind Comfort (PWC) and Daylight, Sunlight, and Overshadowing (DSO) assessments identified areas that were not suitable for their intended uses compared to industry standards, further de-coupled steady-state Outdoor Thermal Comfort (OTC) analyses showed that these weaknesses could be transformed into opportunities.

These analyses informed the proposed schemes' massing, siting, and orientation by accounting for past and current weather conditions, and future projections following a Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) of 8.5.

The findings demonstrate how strategic densification in temperate climates, guided by comprehensive urban planning, through the creation of ventilation corridors and localized shadow patterns alongside passive and adaptive measures, can alleviate the negative impact of a changing climate, reducing the risks of heat strokes and the need for active cooling systems. This research provides valuable insights for creating livable and resilient cities for today and the future by addressing these critical aspects of urban development and climate resilience.