Oasis by the Sea: Design Matrix for Shaping Microclimates in Hot Coastal Cities

In the challenging context of hot, arid tropics, coastal regions face intensified climatic pressures, necessitating innovative urban and architectural solutions for liveable human habitats. This study explores the “Oasis by the Sea” concept, focusing on architectural edge conditioning to sculpt microclimates conducive to human habitation at the sea's edge. Drawing inspiration from vernacular oasis systems, the primary aim of the study is to develop effective microclimatic design parameters, principles and strategies tailored to hot arid coastal urban settings. It categorizes these design parameters into physical (urban morphology), environmental (meteorological data), and social factors (inhabitant). These resulting parameters are destined in progressive work to be evaluated using advanced simulation tools, high-resolution climate models, CFD, and thermal comfort assessments, to quantify their impact on specific urban microclimate application. The findings are synthesized into an Urban Microclimate and Design Matrix as form-finding and evaluation tool for “Oasis by the Sea”, offering a practical framework for designing resilient urban environments, providing valuable insights for researchers, planners, architects, and policymakers.