Cool Spots in Hot Climates

Cool spots in hot climates––a means to achieve pedestrian comfort, was a design project involving extensive research on pedestrian comfort in extremely hot climates. I performed fieldwork investigations to assess on-site microclimatic conditions and pedestrian usage pattern of outdoor spaces. The design proposal, Cool Spots, is a direct synthesis of research and fieldwork and has evolved through progressive analysis of wind, solar and microclimate studies.

This urban design project proposed for the city of Sharjah, in UAE, enhances pedestrian comfort by providing shade, improving wind movement and reducing mean radiant temperatures (MRT). The design and material choices of the cool spots reduce MRT by 12 degree Celsius and physiologically felt temperature by 10 degree Celsius.