A thesis of the University analyzes the overheating of Pamplona homes in summertime

Opening the windows at night to ventilate is a common gesture in many homes in Pamplona during the summer. But, in the face of increasingly frequent heat waves, this internship may not be enough. Ainhoa Arriazu Ramos, from Pamplona and new doctor of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra, has focused her thesis , which she defended on July 24, on the diagnosis of the interior overheating of the houses of the residential area of Pamplona and its adaptive capacity.

"It is a topic that has emerged as a worldwide concern due to global warming. This problem is especially relevant in temperate Europe, where historically adequate indoor conditions were maintained with passive systems such as solar shading and night ventilation. However, the trend towards hotter summers and more frequent heat waves is compromising these traditional practices," says Ainhoa Arriazu.

With her thesis she proposes a diagnostic methodology at the urban scale to identify the homes most vulnerable to overheating during extreme summers. "The methodology I have used is based on energy simulations in different types of residential buildings and considers the urban microclimate at the neighborhood level. I have focused my assessment on Pamplona, but it is applicable to other cities," explains Ainhoa Arriazu. 

The architect has found that Pamplona's residential stock, especially housing built prior to the 2006 Technical Technical Code of the Building of 2006which make up 85% of the total, significantly overheat during hot summers such as that of 2022. "Of all of them, particularly vulnerable to suffer greater overheating are the homes located on the top floors of the building and with only one orientation" says the doctor.

For this reason, Ainhoa Arriazu sees the need for change: "There is an urgent need for a transition towards design and building renovation practices that ensure adequate indoor conditions, not only during the winter, but also during the summer. In addition, progress should be made in requiring the assessment of indoor overheating and the development of new forms and systems of construction and rehabilitation of buildings and urban regeneration, using, for example, solutions based on nature, to improve the quality of life and contribute to the decarbonization of the residential sector, helping to meet international climate targets, "says the architect.