Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Landscape Architecture
Department
Landscape Architecture
First Advisor
Diane Jones Allen
Second Advisor
Joowon Im
Third Advisor
Sarah Fitzgerald
Abstract
As cities continue to expand and temperatures rise, extreme weather conditions become more frequent (Tan et al., 2009). This urban heat phenomenon significantly impacts the environment and the health and well-being of living organisms, including humans (Bullard, 2011). Unfortunately, those who live in poverty are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of urban heat island-induced heat (Balbus & Malina, 2009). To address this issue, this research evaluates landscape architecture design strategies that mitigate the urban heat island and enhance thermal comfort in vulnerable suburban neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas. Recommendations are provided for enhancing resident thermal comfort in single-family residential neighborhoods, specifically the Bachman Lake neighborhood in Dallas, Texas.
The qualitative research methods were employed for this master thesis on design, which involved gathering and analyzing data from various sources such as literature reviews, precedent studies, observational data collection, site inventory and analysis, existing user surveys, and expert interviews. The result of this research is eight design strategies that can be implemented in the Bachman Lake single-family residential neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. These strategies aim to examine and envision the findings produced in this thesis.
To summarize, the findings outline the essential design strategies that can be employed to counteract the urban heat island and enhance thermal comfort in vulnerable single-family residential regions. They also provide guidance on where to prioritize the use of such strategies within this framework. Additionally, actionable suggestions are provided for landscape architects for the continued implementation of these design strategies.
Keywords
Urban heat island, Landscape architecture, Design, Vulnerable neighborhoods, Resilience
Disciplines
Landscape Architecture
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Villalobos, Angelica E., "DESIGNING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES TO COUNTERACT THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND ENHANCE THERMAL COMFORT IN VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DALLAS, TEXAS" (2024). Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses. 240.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/landscapearch_theses/240