DESIGN BY CLIMATE
URBANIST & DESIGNER FR


Urban Heat Island and Cooling Strategies of Heritage Area in the Historic Center of Arles


2023-2024

with Atelier MARE, Atelier Géminé, DOMENE Scop, Atelier 21 and Véronique Mure
in partnership with the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the House of Architecture and the City PACA, and the City of Arles


Adapting heritage areas and cities to climate change is a real challenge. The city of Arles boasts a remarkable and unique historical heritage in the South of France, spanning from Antiquity to the contemporary period, including the medieval era.

However, this city is highly vulnerable during heatwaves, when air temperatures can reach around 40°C.

The historic center of Arles is extremely urbanized, and the dense built environment creates a pronounced urban heat island (UHI) effect. As a result, thermal discomfort during the summer is significant, affecting both the city's tourism activity and the quality of life for the residents of Arles.

for the historic center of the city of Arles Simulation of normalized sunlight accumulation for the historic center of the city of Arles

Simulation by Clément Gaillard Simulation of normalized sunlight accumulation on a central square in the city of Arles

In order to define the most suitable urban cooling and heat island mitigation strategies, a significant diagnosis of the local climate and the various microclimates of the historic center of the city of Arles was conducted.

A comprehensive report detailing this climate diagnosis was prepared by Freio and can be downloaded here (in French).

Simulation by Clément Gaillard Simulation of ground cooling rate (Sky View Factor) for the historic center of the city of Arles

Measures by Clément Gaillard Surface temperature measurements on the Place de la République at 1 a.m. during a heatwave, with an air temperature of 29°C.

The climate diagnosis helped identify streets and squares that are thermally uncomfortable during periods of intense heat and those most exposed to urban overheating.

Based on this work, a cooling strategy adapted to the heritage constraints of Arles was proposed. It incorporates sun protection elements observed in old postcards and utilizes local breezes to cool the main squares of the city center.


Arles picture by Clément Gaillard Old postcard of a fish market in Arles showing vertical sunshades hung to shade the façade

Drawing by Clément Gaillard Restitution of the Spart cloth sun protections that existed in Arles at the beginning of the 20th century and could be redeveloped


Drawing by Clément Gaillard Section illustrating the cooling transport from the uncovered Craponne canal to the city center through the action of breezes or the south wind (marin)


This study highlighted the existence of heat protection heritage that existed before the development of air conditioning and which deserved to be revived alongside other strategies (use of breezes for cooling, de-paving, etc.).

I had the opportunity to present this study and the main recommendations made to the city of Arles at several conferences in France.

The complete study carried out by the entire commissioned team, which includes the climate diagnosis, analysis, and various recommendations can be consulted and downloaded here (in French). .