Cooling the Commons: Guide for Western Sydney

This research project analysed studies that have documented best practices to achieve thermal comfort in cities with similar climatic conditions to Sydney. It addresses the gap in knowledge of how people move between inside and outside, especially vulnerable populations—young, old and mobility-challenged. Of particular interest are those spaces and social practices that connect the private space of home with the footpaths, shops, schools, parks, workplaces, and other spaces that we share in common.

Solutions being explored are connected to design and the realm of social practice, including:

• How do people stay cool?
• How does this coolness contribute to the vitality, sociability, and even commercial life of cities?
• What design features allow for both comfort and mobility in the city
• What social practices are these enabling?

This project has reviewed literature and developed a pattern book for communicating core principles of design that can enable cool urban commons and inform templates for community cooling plans.

The project is a collaboration between Landcom, Western Sydney University and the University of New South Wales.

Download the report