Landscape and Urban Design for improved urban microclimate

Authors

  • Silvia Tavares Urban Design and Town Planning, Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab (BASC Lab),University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8405-9717
  • Jiawei Fu Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab (BASC Lab), University of the Sunshine Coast https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5104-2807

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34900/lr.v21i2.1307

Keywords:

Urban microclimate, outdoor thermal comfort, heat stress, urban comfort, built environment, climate-responsive design

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the important role of landscape architecture and urban design in implementing urban heat mitigation strategies. We discuss how these professions relate to and are considered in studies focused on urban climate and outdoor thermal comfort. Strategies available through landscape architecture and urban design are closely associated with an improved urban thermal environment (Chu et al, 2024). Street orientation, building height and density, green cover ratio, building materials, and the shape and size of water bodies can mitigate urban heat by adjusting urban microclimate and reducing energy use (Abd Elraouf et al, 2022; Liu et al, 2022; Xu et al, 2019). In the context of climate change, it is therefore essential to properly design and plan the built environment for mitigating urban heat, and it is increasingly important to ensure effective communication between the science community and built environment professionals.

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Author Biography

Jiawei Fu, Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab (BASC Lab), University of the Sunshine Coast

Dr. Jiawei Fu is currently a visiting scholar at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Her research focuses on the impact of vegetation on microclimate and human thermal comfort in urban streets. As a landscape architect and lecturer, she has extensive professional and teaching experience in urban planning and landscape design, including developing urban green strategies in Macau and mentoring students to win landscape design awards. Dedicated to designing with nature for optimal outcomes, her research interest lies in urban green infrastructure for sustainable city development. 

Urban form, materials, vegetation and the resulting urban microclimates

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Published

28-10-2025

How to Cite

Tavares, S., & Fu, J. (2025). Landscape and Urban Design for improved urban microclimate. Landscape Review, 21(2), 38–45. https://doi.org/10.34900/lr.v21i2.1307

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2025): Heat!

Section

Research-Informed Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Silvia Tavares, Jiawei Fu

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