"When exposed to heat, the body activates several physiological mechanisms to maintain thermal homeostasis. However, these natural defenses are often overwhelmed in our modern cities.In an urban environment defined by heat-absorbing asphalt, concrete, and a lack of green spaces, these mechanisms become inefficient. If the surroundings are excessively hot, humid, or poorly ventilated -conditions amplified by the Urban Heat Island effect-the core body temperature begins to rise, and the risk of serious complications increases, ranging from cramps and exhaustion to potentially fatal heat strokes."
"A recent analysis by Imperial College London estimated that during the European summer of 2025, two out of three heat-related deaths were a direct consequence of human-induced global warming - about 16,500 of the 24,400 recorded deaths. Both this and warnings from the World Health Organization reinforce the urgency of developing urban and architectural strategies capable of mitigating heat, protecting vulnerable populations, and reducing the growing burden of the climate crisis on public health."
Heat exposure triggers physiological cooling mechanisms, but urban features like asphalt, concrete, and scarce green space reduce their effectiveness. Excessive heat, humidity, and poor ventilation—worsened by Urban Heat Island effects—raise core body temperature and increase risks from cramps and exhaustion to fatal heat stroke. Between 2000 and 2019, an annual average of 489,000 deaths were linked to extreme heat globally. During the European summer of 2025, roughly two-thirds of 24,400 heat-related deaths were attributable to human-driven warming, underscoring the need for urban and architectural measures to protect vulnerable populations and public health.
Read at ArchDaily
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