Urban Green School - Climate Resilient Green Building Design

Abstract

Green spaces are becoming increasingly important in urban environments. Environmental effects of large, constructed areas have a significant impact on microclimate and global warming. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is already one of the major challenges for cities. Population growth in cities requires solutions in architecture and urban design that maintain and improve the quality of life in urban areas. Urban green infrastructure is a valuable resource for improving microclimate and reducing the impact of climate change in cities. In this context the combination of architecture and vegetation is a promising approach towards more climate resilient cities. The aim of this master thesis is to develop a greening concept for schools, which is developed through a design study for an Urban Green School in Vienna. The design focuses on an architectural response to challenges of climate change including the increasing frequency of heat days and severe precipitation. The development of the concept is based on a literature review with focus on urban challenges caused by climate change, key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to urban climate, design strategies for climate change adaptation and microclimate improvement.