Impacts, Risks and Vulnerabilities. Adapting buildings to climate change. Vila Nova de Foz Côa

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the ongoing issue of climate change and the potential for architectural adaptation to existing and future hazards. Portugal is located within the Mediterranean climate zone, which is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change. It is therefore imperative that Portugal addresses the challenges posed by climate change with urgency. The impact of climate change is affecting the environment in which we live, with a range of weather events occurring with increasing frequency and intensity. These include an increase in average temperature, the occurrence of heat waves and extreme precipitation. The resulting impacts and vulnerabilities have a detrimental effect on the quality of daily life, especially given the lack of initiatives and resources dedicated to adapting buildings to ensure appropriate comfort conditions. It is imperative that the built environment reacts and adapts to climate change. In particular, the existing building stock must respond to the changing parameters of climate change to ensure comfort and safety. The role of the architect is therefore becoming increasingly important in renovating or designing buildings that can meet these new parameters. The architect's design and chosen construction can have a significant impact on the environment and inhabitants, thus giving architects a social responsibility towards the living environment. Particularly in isolated rural areas, which are more vulnerable to climate change due to their socio-economic and demographic characteristics, it is crucial to integrate climate change adaptation into architectural design. The case study of Vila Nova de Foz Côa is used in this work to illustrate how the vulnerability, impacts and risks of a municipality can be analysed, as well as the ways in which buildings can be adapted to climate change in this regard. Furthermore, it draws attention to the issues that arise from the absence of implementation of the planned strategies. To achieve this, the following four projects, which are either being renovated or are planned to be built in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, are analysed in terms of their incorporation of climate change adaptation during the planning phase. This study aims to determine the role of the architect in adapting to climate change and to what extent this will or must change in the future. Should the well-being and safety of the inhabitants be prioritised over architectural considerations, or can new solutions be found through education and open-mindedness that can combine both elements.