In this first episode of Community Talks, Angelos Chronis, sat down with Emanuele Naboni, a key figure in the field of sustainability in the built environment. They discuss the pressing issues of climate change, and the role of environmental simulations in the design of livable and resilient urban space. The discussion brought forward a wealth of insights, highlighting the need for integration between technology, architecture, and climate science to foster sustainable urban development.

Key points

• There is often a disconnect between architects’ design intuition and the technical analysis done by simulation experts. Tools are needed to bridge this gap and allow designers to make climate-informed decisions early in the process.
• Localized climate data is crucial. Standard weather files from airports do not capture microclimate variations in cities. Hyperlocal, real-time sensor data should be leveraged to fine-tune simulations.
• Cooling, rather than heating, has become the dominant energy use in buildings globally. Many of our current city planning paradigms and building standards are still based on heating-dominated scenarios.
• Expedited simulation methods and interactive tools that can be used by non-specialist stakeholders are key to integrating climate knowledge into design processes. Black-box models should be made more transparent and accessible.
• Courtyards and urban greenery are often seen as universal solutions, but simulations show they can sometimes hinder ventilation and cooling. Their effectiveness depends on the specific local climate.
• Metadata and common data standards are lacking to unify climate data with architectural design tools. An integrated model incorporating heat, water, biodiversity, materials and more is needed.
• Simulation tools need to become more accessible and interactive, allowing specialists and non-specialists to understand the hyper-specific variables impacting each project.
• A mindset shift is underway, with increasing awareness each year of the need for climate-aware design. But the competencies and tools are still evolving to meet the complex realities.