Microclimate Assessment of Design Proposals for Public Space in Cold Climate Zone: Case of Yakutiye Square

• Published in: Megaron (Istanbul, Turkey) Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 321 - 331
• Main Authors: Doğan Dursun, Merve Yavaş, Sevgi Yılmaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: KARE Publishing 01.09.2020
• Subjects: cold climate; envi-met; erzurum; outdoor thermal comfort; urban design
• ISSN: 1309-6915
• DOI: 10.14744/megaron.2020.15985

In the last decade, a climate-sensitive urban design has become a popular research topic in most countries, due to the changing climate pattern. In particular, northern cities have always been experiencing stressful climatic conditions, such as snow, ice, wind, and darkness, and should always be ready to withstand these conditions. Urban patterns and designs should be consistent on both macroscale and microscale levels, for buildings to withstand cold climate conditions. Especially, public spaces built in cities should have characteristics to withstand cold winter, such that people can remain in these places for most of the time, that is, remain outdoors. Residents should be encouraged to remain outside, with the help of a public space that is designed to optimize the beneficial aspects of winter. This study mainly aims to explore the consistencies between the urban patterns of Yakutiye Square, which is the central square of Erzurum, and cold climate conditions by simulating the microclimate in the square. In this process, it is aimed to generate a thermal comfort model for the square and determine the level of sensitivity of the urban design to the climate conditions. This study mainly analyzes whether the urban patterns in and around the square eliminate or withstand the winter disturbances. In addition, it questions the capability of the square for transforming this outdoor space into a center of attraction. In this context, a case study is conducted during the winter period. The analysis uses the data gathered through urban geometry of the site, meteorological parameters, and time parameters. Thermal comfort conditions are generated based on these three issues, which gives an idea about a better public space design for winter cities. To evaluate the models, ENVI-met is used. The findings show that Yakutiye Square is not compatible with cold climate conditions and does not use the advantage of the existing climate conditions. As a result, some alternative urban design proposals are suggested for the case study area.