Holistic Approach towards a Sustainable Urban Renewal: Thermal Comfort Perspective of Urban Housing in Kigali, Rwanda

Abstract

Urban upgrading programs are implemented to enhance the living conditions in a city. However, concept of what extent life targeted communities is improved remains contested and fluid. The purpose this study was two-fold. First, it evaluated for first time indoor thermal three main urban housing types Kigali analyzed whether ongoing renewal takes into consideration occupant comfort. Second, alternatives improve performance were investigated recommendations given. Results indicate that modern performed significantly greater compared other types, especially during daytime. Indoor planned low-income no better—and, fact, slightly poorer—than informal settlement from which households be relocated. Through design parameter optimization, by 85.5% daytime hours 71.2% nighttime hours. These findings valuable officials resettlement providing insights dwellers’ wholistic prospective. This can assist related parties mitigating project failure often caused local resistance resettlement.