Policies and technicalities providing natural ventilation to domestic spaces for high-density tropical living in Hong Kong

Abstract

Designing natural ventilation systems for quality urban living in high-density cities such as Hong Kong is never an easy task. Since 1903, Hong Kong has been tackling this issue. The intensification of urbanization in the last 100 years has meant that urban ventilation is compromised. For sub-tropical living, especially in the summer months, air flow in interior spaces can greatly assist thermal comfort. To come up with an ideal design, both the outdoor and the indoor wind environment must be optimized. Since 2003, the Hong Kong SAR Government has commissioned various studies and has begun to implement policies to address the issue. These studies are ongoing as of today. However, continuous research and monitoring are still needed. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.