Street canyon microclimate in traditional and modern neighbourhoods in a hot dry climate - a case study in Fez, Morocco

The urban climate can vary considerably within cities. In a hot and dry climate, the micro¬climate at street level depends to a large extent on the urban geometry and building density. To be able to plan and design comfortable urban areas in the future, it is important to understand how different urban textures influence the climate. This paper deals with a case study in Fez, Morocco, where climate measurements took place in two entirely different types of neighbourhoods: a modern, suburban area with wide streets and many open spaces and a traditional, dense neighbourhood in the old city. The results show significant differences between the two neighbourhoods. In both summer and winter the minimum temperature was 2–4°C lower in the modern area, and the maximum temperature was about 10°C higher. In summer the modern area was extremely uncomfortable whereas the traditional was within the comfort zone. In winter neither area achieved comfort, but the modern was better