Exploring the effect of building form and arrangement on outdoor thermal comfort in residential complexes (case study: Tabriz city)

The growing construction density and number of apartments in cities have led people to spend more time outdoors, even in cold climates. Outdoor thermal comfort, which is influenced by building physical configurations, is a key factor determining the extent of this tendency. In this study, the effects of building form and layout on outdoor thermal comfort in a residential complex in Tabriz are investigated. For this purpose, several residential complexes are studied, and it is found that perimeter arrangement is predominant in Tabriz. The case study is Shahid Chamran complex, which consists of 28 residential blocks and has perimeter arrangement. For this purpose, ENVI-met software is used to simulate air temperature, mean radiant temperature, predicted mean vote (PMV), wind speed, and relative humidity. In this context, the outdoor thermal comfort in the current condition is compared with six cases with different dimensions and arrangement patterns. Investigations indicated that the combination of the two scattered and peripheral block shapes was the most efficient pattern for providing outdoor thermal comfort, as the mean PMV increased from - 4.31 to - 1.25. U-shaped blocks had acceptable performance due to wind attenuation at the corners. However, the perimeter layout is not suitable for the steppe climate of Tabriz. This study proposes design solutions for urban planners and architects to meet environmental requirements and provide outdoor thermal comfort in cold climates.