A Hierarchical Architectural Decision Model for Residential Heat Resilience (DMHR)

Abstract

Contemporary residential architecture faces a structural tension between energy efficiency and heat resilience. While building regulations and sustainability standards have historically prioritized winter insulation and the reduction of heating demand, the increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events in Europe challenge this paradigm. The summer of 2022—associated with over 61,000 heat-related deaths across Europe—exposed the vulnerability of highly insulated housing stock, particularly among elderly and low-income populations (Ballester et al., 2023).This paper proposes DMHR, a hierarchical decision-support design model for thermal resilience, developed and demonstrated through an 8×16 m modular reference design adapted to three climatic contexts: Warsaw (Cfb), Istanbul (Csa—humid), and Seville (Csa/BSh—hot dry). The research applies climate-based analytical design modelling grounded in literature-derived thermal performance ranges and health-oriented thresholds, rather than dynamic simulations. DMHR structures interventions into three cumulative levels: (L1) passive architectural filtering (geometry, shading, and thermal mass), (L2) physiological support through controlled air movement and night ventilation, and (L3) targeted active cooling in a “Safe Room” as a life-safety layer during heat extremes. The findings indicate that passive strategies remain foundational but can reach physiological limits under severe heat, making minimal yet strategic active cooling relevant to protect nocturnal regeneration and reduce health risk. The study reframes thermal design as a matter of climate justice and positions architecture as an external regulator of human thermophysiology rather than merely a tool for annual energy optimization.

Keywords: Residential Overheating, Heat Resilience, Thermal Resilience, Thermal Comfort, Adaptive Thermal Comfort, Night Ventilation, Passive Cooling, Courtyard Microclimate, Safe Room, Public Health

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007949