Optimizing Urban Thermal Comfort Through Multi-Criteria Architectural Approaches in Arid Regions: The Case of Béchar, Algeria

Radia Benziada, Malika Kacemi, Abderahemane Mejedoub Mokhtari, Naima Fezzioui, Zouaoui R. Harrat (), Mohammed Chatbi, Nahla Hilal (), Walid Mansour and Md. Habibur Rahman Sobuz
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Radia Benziada: Materials, Soils and Thermics Laboratory (LMST), Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB), 1505 El Menaouer, Oran 31000, Algeria
Malika Kacemi: Metropolis Architecture Urban Planning Society Laboratory (LAMAUS), Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB), 1505 El Menaouer, Oran 31000, Algeria
Abderahemane Mejedoub Mokhtari: Materials, Soils and Thermics Laboratory (LMST), Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB), 1505 El Menaouer, Oran 31000, Algeria
Naima Fezzioui: Laboratory of Mechanics of Structures (LMS), Civil Engineering and Hydraulics Department, Faculty of Technology, Tahri Mohamed University, Bechar 08000, Algeria
Zouaoui R. Harrat: Laboratoire des Structures et Matériaux Avancés dans le Génie Civil et Travaux Publics, Djilllali Liabes University, Sidi Bel Abbes 22000, Algeria
Mohammed Chatbi: Department of Public Works, Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou, Tizi Ouzou 15000, Algeria
Nahla Hilal: Scientific Affairs Department, University of Fallujah, Fallujah 31002, Iraq
Walid Mansour: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Durability for Marine Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Md. Habibur Rahman Sobuz: Department of Building Engineering and Construction Management, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna 9203, Bangladesh

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-38

Abstract: Urban planning in arid climates must overcome numerous nonclimatic constraints that often result in outdoor thermal discomfort. This is particularly evident in Béchar, a city in southern Algeria known for its long, intense summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 45 °C. This study investigates the influence of urban morphology on thermal comfort and explores architectural and digital solutions to enhance energy performance in buildings. This research focuses on Béchar’s city center, where various urban configurations were analyzed using a multidisciplinary approach that combines typomorphological and climatic analysis with numerical simulations (ENVI-met 3.0 and TRNSYS 16). The results show that shaded zones near buildings have lower thermal loads (under +20 W/m 2 ), while open areas may reach +100 W/m 2 . The thermal comfort rate varies between 22% and 60%, depending on wall materials and occupancy patterns. High thermal inertia materials, such as stone and compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs), reduce hot discomfort hours to under 1700 h/year but may increase cold discomfort. Combining these materials with targeted insulation improves thermal balance. Key recommendations include compact urban forms, vegetation, shading devices, and high-performance envelopes. Early integration of these strategies can significantly enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy demand in Saharan cities.

Keywords: arid climate; ENVI-met; thermal comfort; TRNSYS; urban morphology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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