Microclimate adaptability analysis of waterfront traditional villages: a case study of Mingyuewan Village in Suzhou

Abstract

Traditional villages contain human beings adapting to the natural environment and spontaneously forming a living environment in the process of their evolution. However, with the frequent occurrence of harsh weather in recent years, the livability of traditional villages is also facing challenges. In order to improve the climatic adaptability of traditional villages, scholars have proposed many methods, but there is a lack of research on the spatial microclimate adaptation of traditional villages based on the perspective of spatial accessibility. This paper selects typical traditional villages in the Taihu Lake Basin, analyzes spatial accessibility and CFD numerical simulation comfort by spatial syntax from the two levels of village and iconic nodes, and discusses the correlation between spatial accessibility and climate comfort. Also, the study concludes the following: (1) The overall integration degree of Mingyuewan Village is not high, and the overall accessibility is poor. (2) The correlation between wind environment and spatial accessibility is weak. The thermal environment is associated with spatial accessibility. Comfort is strongly correlated with the degree of spatial accessibility. This paper proposes to consider the lake surface to dominate the seasonal wind, reserve windward outlets, and add green plants and shade facilities in green public open spaces. HIGHLIGHTS A typical waterfront traditional village was selected.; The scientific method uses spatial syntax combined with CFD simulation.; The article discusses the correlation between spatial accessibility and climate adaptation.; The waterfront and layout have proven to provide good thermal comfort for traditional villages.; Climate adaptability of traditional villages is crucial for urban renewal.;

Keywords

• computational fluid dynamics (cfd)
• microclimate
• spatial syntax
• thermal comfort
• traditional villages