How can cities remain comfortable and accessible as temperatures continue to rise? At this year's PLEA Conference (Passive and Low Energy Architecture), Viola Zhang will explore this question in her presentation "The Potential of Comfortable Microclimates: Cool Pocket Networks as a Sustainable Outdoor Comfort Strategy."
As heat increasingly shapes everyday urban life, the design of climate-responsive public spaces becomes ever more important. Viola's research examines how connected networks of cooler outdoor spaces can improve thermal comfort and support healthy, resilient, and accessible urban environments.
The 38th PLEA Conference, a global forum for sustainable architecture and urban design, brings together architects, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to exchange knowledge and advance solutions for a more sustainable future. This year's conference will take place at the Rodrigo Facio Campus of the University of Costa Rica in San José, Costa Rica.