July 4, 2025|
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|5 months agoSwiss Study Challenges Urban Density Heat Assumptions
ETH Zurich research reveals well-planned dense neighborhoods with strategic green spaces can be cooler than sprawling developments, reshaping urban planning approaches.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- A study from ETH Zurich indicates that high-density urban areas do not inherently lead to higher temperatures.
- The key to mitigating urban heat is the strategic organization of urban spaces, including well-placed greenery and trees.
- The SWICE project, sponsored by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), analyzes heat loads in Geneva and Fribourg to test greening and densification scenarios.
- Thermal comfort in cities is achieved through a combination of shade from buildings and trees, ventilation, and the cooling effect of vegetation.
They Said
"Densely built-up neighbourhoods with well-placed greenery and lots of trees – as in some areas of Geneva – can be more pleasant than open but less shady and poorly ventilated settlements such as Schönberg in Freiburg."
"The problem is not density itself, but how we organise it."