The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change

Abstract An increase in ambient air temperature due to climate change can adversely affect indoor thermal conditions, particularly in heritage-listed dwellings, as renovation efforts may be limited by preservation constraints, potentially leading to indoor overheating for occupants. Incorporating he...

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Main Authors: Muxi Lei, Twan van Hooff, Bert Blocken, Ana Pereira Roders
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-04-01
Series:Built Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-025-00183-2
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author Muxi Lei
Twan van Hooff
Bert Blocken
Ana Pereira Roders
author_facet Muxi Lei
Twan van Hooff
Bert Blocken
Ana Pereira Roders
author_sort Muxi Lei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract An increase in ambient air temperature due to climate change can adversely affect indoor thermal conditions, particularly in heritage-listed dwellings, as renovation efforts may be limited by preservation constraints, potentially leading to indoor overheating for occupants. Incorporating heritage-listed dwellings into the climate change adaptation strategies is essential. Heritage-listed dwellings exhibit varying preservation constraints, with character-defining elements differing across cases. A literature review indicates a deficiency in research regarding climate change adaptation for lilong houses, which are two- to three-storey terrace houses featuring timber-brick structures, predominantly constructed in late 19th and early 20th century Shanghai, and recognised as significant urban heritage of the city. Through building energy simulations, this article examines the climate change adaptation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai. Overheating hours and degree hours are utilised to assess indoor overheating conditions. Three scenarios for the preservation of the building envelope are proposed: (1) preservation of walls, (2) preservation of windows, (3) preservation of the roof. There are five categories of climate change adaptation measures. The findings indicate that substantial reductions can be attained by implementing a single preservation scenario customised to the character-defining elements and preservation constraints of heritage-listed dwellings. The most significant decrease in the number of overheating hours is observed in the wall preservation scenario, with a reduction of 69%, followed by a 53% reduction in the roof preservation scenario and a 31% reduction in the window preservation scenario. The proposed preservation scenarios enable the improvement in building indoor thermal conditions without compromising heritage preservation.
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spelling doaj-art-76c2b629ea494815b720f6d86e6ccee42025-08-20T02:30:23ZengSpringerOpenBuilt Heritage2662-68022025-04-019111510.1186/s43238-025-00183-2The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate changeMuxi Lei0Twan van Hooff1Bert Blocken2Ana Pereira Roders3Unit Building Physics and Services, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of TechnologyUnit Building Physics and Services, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of TechnologyInstitute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt UniversityDepartment of Architectural Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of TechnologyAbstract An increase in ambient air temperature due to climate change can adversely affect indoor thermal conditions, particularly in heritage-listed dwellings, as renovation efforts may be limited by preservation constraints, potentially leading to indoor overheating for occupants. Incorporating heritage-listed dwellings into the climate change adaptation strategies is essential. Heritage-listed dwellings exhibit varying preservation constraints, with character-defining elements differing across cases. A literature review indicates a deficiency in research regarding climate change adaptation for lilong houses, which are two- to three-storey terrace houses featuring timber-brick structures, predominantly constructed in late 19th and early 20th century Shanghai, and recognised as significant urban heritage of the city. Through building energy simulations, this article examines the climate change adaptation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai. Overheating hours and degree hours are utilised to assess indoor overheating conditions. Three scenarios for the preservation of the building envelope are proposed: (1) preservation of walls, (2) preservation of windows, (3) preservation of the roof. There are five categories of climate change adaptation measures. The findings indicate that substantial reductions can be attained by implementing a single preservation scenario customised to the character-defining elements and preservation constraints of heritage-listed dwellings. The most significant decrease in the number of overheating hours is observed in the wall preservation scenario, with a reduction of 69%, followed by a 53% reduction in the roof preservation scenario and a 31% reduction in the window preservation scenario. The proposed preservation scenarios enable the improvement in building indoor thermal conditions without compromising heritage preservation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-025-00183-2ShanghaiHeritage-listed dwellingsApartment-style lilong housesIndoor overheatingFuture climateClimate change adaptation
spellingShingle Muxi Lei
Twan van Hooff
Bert Blocken
Ana Pereira Roders
The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
Built Heritage
Shanghai
Heritage-listed dwellings
Apartment-style lilong houses
Indoor overheating
Future climate
Climate change adaptation
title The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
title_full The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
title_fullStr The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
title_full_unstemmed The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
title_short The predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage-listed apartment-style lilong houses in Shanghai under climate change
title_sort predicted effect of preservation scenarios on indoor overheating for the renovation of heritage listed apartment style lilong houses in shanghai under climate change
topic Shanghai
Heritage-listed dwellings
Apartment-style lilong houses
Indoor overheating
Future climate
Climate change adaptation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-025-00183-2
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