This book explores experimental and numerical research findings from the literature, aimed at evaluating and improving the livability of temporary housing solutions. Building upon these insights, a comprehensive workflow for assessing and refining indoor comfort is presented, illustrated through a detailed case study conducted by the authors. This methodology serves as a guide for researchers and practitioners tackling similar challenges in the field. First, the book summarizes the architectural characteristics and design requirements of temporary housing, focusing on how these factors influence the indoor thermal environment. Next, it provides a thorough literature review on thermal comfort studies within temporary housing contexts and offers a unified and coherent framework for evaluating and enhancing thermal comfort. The book equips architects, engineers, researchers, and humanitarian professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to design sustainable and comfortable modular solutions for refugee housing and other temporary structures worldwide. It stands as a unique guide for those committed to creating dignified, livable spaces for displaced populations, and advancing the state of the art in emergency architecture.
Gianluca Maracchini is associate professor at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento
Marco D'Orazio is full professor at the Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona
From Introduction (pagg. 1-3)
Conflicts, natural disasters, and migrant crises have become increasingly frequent in recent years, often exacerbated by climate change. These events can lead to severe urban destruction, rendering cities unusable and significantly impacting the sustainable development of urban environments and societies.
In the aftermath of such catastrophes, people often find themselves shocked, traumatized, and deeply concerned about their future due to the loss of relatives, friends, and possessions. Housing provision plays a crucial role in recovery, allowing displaced individuals to regain a sense of normalcy.
Adequate shelter provides the conditions for living with protection, security, comfort, and privacy while also helping to prevent the spread of diseases and reduce mortality rates. However, providing new houses or repairing damaged ones can take time in chaotic post-disaster situations.
To address immediate housing needs, it is of paramount importance to develop and provide temporary accommodations where people can be located as quickly as possible. […] Temporary housing units […] offer more stable and protective living conditions than shelters, aiming to ensure basic standards of dignity, privacy, and the ability to resume daily routines.
These housing units are usually built using modular, lightweight, and prefabricated systems that enable fast assembly and are meant for short-term use. Consequently, the quality of the indoor hygrothermal environment is often overlooked during the design phase.
Considering the diverse climatic conditions in which these buildings can be placed and the possible lack of suitable environmental control systems in emergency scenarios, unacceptable indoor hygrothermal conditions often occur during the stay of displaced people. These conditions can include extremely high temperatures in summer and coldness in winter, which may cause diseases and mortality after prolonged exposure. This phenomenon is especially prevalent in countries with hot climates, where these buildings are increasingly adopted. However, it is also becoming more frequent in temperate climates, particularly considering the rise in atmospheric temperature due to global warming.
Although these structures are intended for short-term use, it is quite common for forcibly displaced populations to remain in them for extended periods—sometimes even for years or decades—effectively turning emergency camps into semi-permanent settlements. Currently, it is estimated that over 60 million people worldwide live in temporary accommodations in a state of displacement. This situation underscores the urgent need to investigate the indoor hygrothermal environment of these construction systems, enabling correct improvements to their hygrothermal performance before or during their service life.
While the indoor hygrothermal environment of conventional permanent buildings has been extensively studied in the literature, only a few recent studies have focused on the indoor thermal environment of temporary lightweight units. […] only a few compare different strategies, consider their effectiveness across various climatic scenarios, and consider costs or operational feasibility.This book resumes the advancement in the literature for optimizing the thermal performance of temporary housing solutions. It presents an in-depth case study that collects authors' experimental and numerical activities to address these research gaps. The case study provides a comprehensive workflow of activities that may guide researchers and practitioners in optimizing the indoor environment of temporary construction systems.
[…] This comprehensive analysis aims to contribute valuable insights into developing and improving temporary housing solutions, supporting more sustainable and comfortable living environments for displaced populations in diverse climatic conditions.
Courtesy by Springer