Monserrato's urban expansion, a microclimatic approach to the urban design

Currently, actions in relation to sustainability in architecture are mainly concerned with buildings. Nevertheless, the influence of urban form on local microclimate is largely ascertained, while it also has been demonstrated that local microclimates can significantly affect buildings’ energy performance and environmental impact. The “Flowing Knowledges” involved in this work can mainly be summarized as: urban microclimatology, fluid-dynamics, human physiology and technical physics and computer engineering (CFD). The general aim of the masterplan is both to reconnect the Academic Citadel with the city, starkly separated by Highway 554, and contain the urban sprawl.