Thesis document - Jana Milosovicova - Urban Design English

a.The proposal features a number of climatically positive urban designattributes:Fig. 82 Desired orientation of streets andbuildings, applying findings of a study by Herrmanand Matzarakis (2010). This study howeverdid not consider the direction of localwinds, being South-West in the Heidestrasse/Europacity Area.b.c.• The general urban form conforms to the desired values fordensity (the average urban density is FAR 3.3) and street geometry(streets have a H/W ratio 1 and higher);• The streets are oriented in a thermally convenient direction, inan oblique angle (30°) to the East-West orientation; and in aparallel to oblique direction of the prevailing Southwest-Westwinds, which provide good ventilation, importing the cooling airfrom the Fritz-Schloss-Park in the West. Although the East-Weststreet orientation, particularly in form of row buildings (fig. 82),would have been the most convenient, responding to the westernwinds prevailing in Berlin in the summer 49 , and reflecting therecommendation by Herrmann and Matzarakis (2010) 50 ; in thisparticular case however, the cold air streaming from the South-West (Environmental Atlas Berlin) must be taken into accountand as such has been considered in the proposal;• The loose high-rise buildings in the northern part of the devel-opment along the railway allow penetration (although someadjustments of their form are needed).The review of the proposal brought following conclusions aboutissues that yet had not been addresses properly:• Insufficient advantage taking of the existing ventilation chan-nels (railway and water channel) – building blocks are closedtowards these ventilation channels;• Building blocks are generally closed, particularly those in thewestern area, not permitting impinging ventilation or local aircirculation;• Same-height buildings within the urban blocks don’t supportturbulent ventilation;• Water channel is enclosed by ca. 3 m high walls, not allowingventilation from the water body enter the settlement;• Design for open spaces needs detailed design provisions toavoid over-heating due to vast, paved open space areas withinsufficient vegetation.The inclusion of the following elements had not been considered atthis planning level:• Evaporative surfaces, vegetated swalles and the like;• Decentralized rainwater management using overground rain-water system;• Building vegetating means (roof and façade greening);• Albedo of the development and other material characteristics.49 Environmental Atlas Berlin, online50 According to a study by Herrmann and Matzarakis (2010), in cool moderateclimates, the East-West orientation is the most appropriate one to lower downthe temperatures. In this study on geometry and orientation of idealized urbancanyon however, no local wind direction has been considered.52Climate Sensitive Urban Design in Moderate Climate Zone: Responding to Future Heat Waves. Case Study Berlin Heidestrasse/Europacity