CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The rapid vertical expansion of our cities is completely changing the way we live. In such a situation, it has become necessary to rethink the way our residential areas and neighbourhoods are built. An important study titled “Micro Climatic Analysis of Open Enclosures in High-Density Built Environment: Case of High-Density Residential Development in Thane, Maharashtra, India” has offered a new direction for creating cooler, more comfortable and more liveable urban environments. The research was carried out by Vandana Srivastava (Tiwari).
The study focuses on a problem that is affecting millions of people in Indian cities because of rapidly rising population and urbanisation. Due to shortage of land, developers are constructing high-rise buildings, often creating the “urban heat island” effect. This condition develops when natural greenery is replaced by concrete and other artificial surfaces, which absorb the sun’s heat throughout the day and release it slowly at night. As a result, open spaces in residential complexes become extremely hot and uncomfortable.
To find a solution to this problem, the researcher adopted a practical testing method based on two levels. In the first stage, satellite thermal images from different parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region over several years were studied to understand changes in land surface temperature under different FSI scenarios. In the second stage, three residential complexes in Thane were selected, representing common trends in current urban development. Real climate sensors were installed in the central courtyards of these complexes during the hottest days of summer to directly measure air temperature and humidity. Based on this field data, highly accurate three-dimensional computer simulations were developed to analyse the interrelationship between building height, shade, airflow and thermal conditions.
The most important and surprising finding of this research is that constructing more residential units on a plot does not automatically create more heat. The real difference is made by the structure and arrangement of buildings. The study proved that tall and slender tower-shaped buildings built around a central open space are cooler and more comfortable than dense low-rise construction spread across the entire site. These tall buildings act like large sunscreens and, through the shade they create, prevent intense afternoon sunlight from reaching shared open spaces. Although such buildings obstruct natural airflow to some extent, the cooling gained from their shade in hot and humid climates proves far more beneficial than the reduction in air movement, and significantly reduces thermal stress for residents during the day.
It is essential to apply these findings in practice, especially at a time when global temperatures are continuously rising. For this, urban planning authorities should make it mandatory for developers to submit detailed microclimate simulation reports before approval is granted to any new development project. This will ensure that the project design protects human thermal comfort.
In addition, regulatory provisions should prescribe a minimum limit for the sky view factor so that heat accumulated during the day in courtyards between buildings can be effectively released into the atmosphere at night. Current town planning rules focus mainly on parameters such as road width, fire safety and economic benefits, while completely ignoring how comfortable the structure of a residential complex will be for the people living there.
The study also indicates that although tall buildings provide a cooler environment during the day, hot air can become trapped at night if the sky view factor becomes too low. Therefore, planners should develop designs with adequate spacing, proper intervals and air corridors so that accumulated heat can escape effectively at night.
If municipal bodies and development authorities are provided with such scientific and forecast-based tools, they will be able to assess the possibility of any area becoming excessively hot even before construction begins. Adopting these scientific design principles is the way to transform our concrete jungles into safe, healthy and liveable urban shelters that protect public health, reduce energy consumption and electricity costs, and ensure sustainable and comfortable communities for future generations.
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