Vol. 29 No. 1 (2025): BEYOND DECARBONIZATION toward a Climate Neutral urban environment
Research and Experimentation

Climate conscious design of light structures for improving the liveability of urban environments

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  • Rossella Siani,
  • Francesco De Luca
Rossella Siani
Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura, Università di Parma, Italia
Bio
Francesco De Luca
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/techne-16583

Published 2025-07-31

Keywords

  • Climate change,
  • Optimisation,
  • Morphogenesis,
  • Parametric design,
  • Digital fabrication

How to Cite

Siani, R., & De Luca, F. (2025). Climate conscious design of light structures for improving the liveability of urban environments. TECHNE - Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment, 29(1), 309–316. https://doi.org/10.36253/techne-16583

Copyright (c) 2025 Rossella Siani, Francesco De Luca

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

A climate-neutral urban environment can benefit from light structures that provide relief from urban overheating in warm seasons, reduce surface temperatures, and lower energy needs and carbon emissions while sequestering carbon through bio-based materials. This research introduces a temporary architectural system to enhance thermal comfort year-round in urban spaces. Combining parametric design with computational morphogenesis, the system optimises shading and airflow to reduce summer heat stress while retaining solar radiation in winter. The modular structure integrates visually with its surroundings without obstructing views. Climate simulations and a 1:30 scale prototype confirm its feasibility, offering a sustainable, adaptable solution for diverse urban climates and contributing to climate-responsive design.

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