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Thermal Environment and Adaptive Comfort in Traditional Lifen Dwellings During Summer: Field Measurements and Occupant Surveys in Wuhan, China

Kangli Ren,Meng Yao,Yu He,Shuen Yao,Chiming Tang,Chi Zhang

Published 2026 in Buildings

ABSTRACT

Under extreme summer heat and humidity, the indoor thermal environment and occupants’ thermal adaptability in Lifen dwellings, a high-density residential typology in Wuhan, China, remain insufficiently documented. This study compares summer indoor thermal conditions and thermal comfort between traditional and newly built Lifen dwellings using combined field measurements and questionnaire surveys. Continuous monitoring was conducted in four representative dwellings from 16 to 21 July 2024, together with 192 valid questionnaires collected across the two Lifen communities. Results indicate clear differences in indoor thermal characteristics between the two dwelling types; old Lifen dwellings exhibited stronger perceived heat and more pronounced spatial thermal non-uniformity. Kitchens were identified as the most unfavorable spaces in dwellings. Regression analysis of thermal sensation reveals that residents in old dwellings had a higher neutral temperature than those in new dwellings (27.6 °C versus 26.0 °C) and demonstrated stronger overall thermal adaptability, with a relatively wider comfort range (0.8 °C). Combined evidence from field measurements and subjective voting suggests that long exposure, behavioral adjustment, and ventilation-driven cooling collectively enhance heat tolerance in old Lifen dwellings. These findings provide empirical support for thermal environment optimization and renovation strategies in naturally ventilated historic residential areas.

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