Influences of Building and Urban Typologies on the Study of Thermal Comfort in ‘Shophouse’ Dwellings in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The ‘Shophouse’ is a repetitive form of vernacular residential building type found in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The main mechanism for controlling the indoor environment of most shophouses across Vietnam is natural ventilation. However, under the pressures of climate change and rapid urbanisation, the indoor thermal conditions of shophouses have become uncomfortable for occupants. Consequently, demand for cooling energy is increasing year-on-year. This paper presents the classification of architecture and urban typologies of shophouses and their subdivisions along with key characteristics found in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The studies of thermal environment in shophouses identified that thermal conditions varied in a partially systematic way when classified according to building and urban typologies. They also showed the indoor environment in row houses of new residential communities is more comfortable than other types. The comparison of thermal performances in the shophouses indicates a relationship between comfort and energy expenditure for the building/urban typologies across the city. The understanding of the thermal performance of different shophouse typologies and their urban structure types significantly contributes to the development of policies and standards for shophouse construction and planning to optimise comfort and energy efficiency.