Integrating Climate Smart Development through Bioclimatic Planning and Principles: The Case of the World Heritage City of Vigan, Philippines

Abstract

With rapid and unplanned urban development, there is the emergence of Urban Heat Islands, altering the microclimate of the city. As a coping mechanism, several studies have integrated bioclimatic planning for climate-smart development in the Western context; however, there is an inadequacy of studies focusing on the application of bioclimatic design for a tropical urban climate like the Philippines. Furthermore, studies regarding city microclimate analysis are absent in the country. This study aimed to enumerate the factors contributing to warmer temperatures in the urban core of the heritage district of Vigan and provide bioclimatic environmental planning strategies to encourage climate-smart development on the site.