Hadrian Aqueduct cooling district: Heat risk reduction guidelines

The Heat Risk Reduction Guidelines provide a framework for designing public spaces to reduce urban temperatures, using Athens as the model. It examines the use of urban nature, water, and building materials to reduce temperatures, providing technical specifications for which solutions are best suited for different urban typologies found in the city. 

Among the key takeaways from the Heat Risk Reduction Guidelines are: 

• Water plays an essential role in the resilience of a city and is not always readily available. Moreover, amid the rising challenges of climate change, using potable water for irrigation and urban water features can become expensive for a city to maintain. Sustainable water elements play a critical role in not only reducing ambient temperatures but also by supporting green infrastructure;
• When integrating water elements, it is critical to assess how they will help citizens experience outdoor spaces. Whether it is a water mirror that children are able to play in with their friends, or misters that keep adults in the town square cool, water is instrumental in not only allowing citizens to survive but also in keeping the city and community a vibrant place;
• When choosing the materials for building public spaces, designers must consider, among other criteria, whether the color and reflectivity of the materials will make them usable in the summer months and how well and quickly the materials dissipate heat.