Video Presentations: Bioclimatic Design for the Post-Crisis City

Jeroen Janssen
Associate Director
Thornton Tomasetti, Inc., London

With high-rise buildings reaching for the skies and urban environments becoming ever denser, it has become essential that as designers we create comfortable urban spaces for residents and visitors to be in. We must prevent adverse wind conditions such as strong downwash of wind coming down tall towers. At the same time the recent pandemic has shown us that adequate ventilation is required to disperse and reduce the risk of pollutants and airborne viruses to propagate and infect communities.

Fortunately, advanced computing power now means an optimal equilibrium can be achieved with the aid of digital simulations. Much research has shown the effects of height, shape, and proximity of buildings on the urban wind climate, as well as on pollutant dispersion.
A novel method of computational design, which is validated with current research, incorporating the effects of climate into a continuous architectural design workflow is detailed. This unique interface feeds seamlessly into the digital design process. It connects the different aspects of the design (architecture, geometry, BIM, structural analysis) with climatic effects such as the wind and sun and its effect on the microclimate into one holistic and coherent workflow. As such, it allows different members of the design team to interact simultaneously and inform the design of the post-crisis city in near real time. Through examining the workflow of a number of active projects, a method for delivering high quality and comfortable outdoor urban areas, while ensuring safety, is outlined.