An integrative review of adaptive urban design strategies for thermal comfort in hot cities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22732703

Keywords:

adaptive urban design, thermal comfort, warm urban environments

Abstract

Adaptive urban design has established itself as a key strategy for addressing overheating and ensuring thermal comfort in cities with hot climates. This research was conducted as an integrative review, guided by the PRISMA guidelines for the selection and screening of sources, and aimed to identify the main adaptive urban design strategies used to ensure thermal comfort in hot cities, based on recent scientific evidence. To this end, a search was conducted on Google Scholar and Scopus, yielding a total of 1,109 sources. After applying the selection criteria, 14 articles were chosen, and their findings were organized into four thematic categories: adaptive comfort models and climate management; urban morphology and design; green and blue infrastructure; and construction with sustainable materials. The studies agree that passive measures (cross-ventilation, shading, and the use of reflective materials) and nature-based solutions (urban vegetation, natural ventilation, green roofs and walls, and water infrastructure) are essential for mitigating urban heat islands and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, the literature emphasizes that thermal comfort depends not only on physical parameters but also on social and cultural perceptions, which reinforces the relevance of adaptive comfort models.

 

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References

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Published

2026-09-12

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Section

Communication of Science: Bibliometrics and systematic reviews.

How to Cite

Gutiérrez Moreno, D. R. (2026). An integrative review of adaptive urban design strategies for thermal comfort in hot cities. InveCom Journal, 6(Especial 2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22732703