Modern Movement Urbanism and Climate Adaptability: a Dual Neighbourhood Case Study in South Europe

This study examines the heat resilience and adaptation of mid-20th century low-income neighbourhoods in European cities, influenced by the Modern Movement and postwar standardisation. It investigates if these neighbourhoods, built with common standards, integrated local climate considerations. The research compares the microclimate performance of two districts with similar design but different climates, revealing variations in heat adaptation and potential climate resilience. It questions if specific considerations were incorporated to address local climate during design and the current obsolescence level of this urbanisation. The study uses the Universal Thermal Climate Index and Computational Fluid Dynamics software ENVI-met to assess microclimate. Results show one case study outperforms the other under both climates, indicating a lack of local adaptation in these spread and standardised urban designs. The findings contribute to understanding main urban aspects that mitigate heat and improve climatic resilience, crucial for future urban design strategies amidst climate change projections