The urban microclimate: a thermal construction of socio-environmental imprints (reforesting cities)

Mariami Maghlakelidze

Anthropogenic land-use changes, driven by rapid urban expansion and rising population pressures, have significantly exacerbated climate change, intensifying the urban heat island effect (UHI) and raising levels of airborne pollutants. Global forests, indispensable carbon sinks that sequester up to approximately 7.6 gigatons of CO₂ annually, play a vital role in moderating local microclimates through evapotranspiration, wind, and albedo modulation, enhancing thermal comfort, improving air quality, and supporting ecological and human well-being. However, their extensive decline throughout the Anthropocene has substantially heightened urban vulnerability to a spectrum of environmental and climatic stressors. This study employs a comparative framework utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to assess the efficacy of reforestation and forest structural designs in reducing land surface temperature (LST), increasing evapotranspiration, and generating localized 'urban cool islands'. Supporting integrative climate adaptation strategies that alleviate climate-driven heat stress while fostering urban resilience and ecological integrity.

Presentations:

From point to network: designing Turin's future through its rivers
Jowita Aleksandra Tabak and Riccardo Ronzani

Cities, Infrastructure and Adaptation to Climate Change (CIAM Climate)
Renato Luiz Sobral Anelli and Ana Paula Koury

Revaluation of the industrial landscape for the urban regeneration of the city of Tumán, 2023
Aurora Isabel Marchena Tafur

Are biogardens a strategy to reduce heat stress in desert climates possible?: Case of Portada de Manchay II, Peru
Loyde Vieira de Abreu Harbich, Jose Pajuelo, Perola Felipette Brocaneli and Andre Luiz Nery Figueiredo

Urban microclimates: thermal constructions of socio-environmental imprints
Mariami Maghlakelidze

Free

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Virtual Tour of the 14th BIAsp 

The 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, Extremes: Architectures for a hot world., It has expanded beyond physical space and can now be visited from anywhere! 

The virtual tour offers a new perspective on the exhibition, which took place from September 18th to October 19th at the Oca in Ibirapuera Park, allowing for fluid, free, and intuitive navigation between the different spaces. During the visit, curatorial content, high-definition images, and details that deepen the spatial and conceptual understanding of the artworks are available. 

The platform broadens access, preserves the memory of the Biennial, and creates new ways to experience architecture. 

Visit the 14th BIAsp here!  

Explore at your own pace, revisit routes, and deepen your experiences. 

The virtual tour will soon be available on the IABsp (Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo branch) website.