Designing inclusive loggia spaces for urban resilience to climate change

Abstract

Based on the experience of people with diverse abilities, recent qualitative research suggests semi-open loggia spaces to face extreme weather conditions in buildings and cities. Aiming at social justice and resilience to climate change, it is pertinent to question the morphological implications of the mentioned qualitative research for architecture and urban rehabilitation. To bridge the gap between theory and practice, we used this qualitative evidence as starting point to study exploratory forms of loggias, through research-by-design. The results suggest that safety and multisensory experiences may be improved by 1. pathways free of obstacles in sidewalks; 2. shading devices without possibilities of child climbing over balconies; 3. relaxing areas in different levels than the main walkways in urban beaches. These findings may contribute to improving the design of loggia spaces and to increasing the adaptation of buildings and cities to climate change.