Comfort, ventilation and health issues in dwellings of Ho Chi Minh City

Description

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is a location in which a number of environmental factors come together in such a way as to create concerns for comfort and health of building occupants. The city is located in a tropical monsoon climate which brings long periods of hot humid weather and there is evidence that climatic extremes have become more prominent in recent years, and these are being exacerbated by urban heat island effects. Ho Chi Minh City has undergone a rapid period of urbanisation and perhaps more importantly densification; this increasing density means that air flow through circulation routes in and around buildings is being compromised. The spaces between buildings are being encroached upon, and opportunities for cross-ventilation and natural cooling are diminishing. Environmental conditions within buildings are often very warm and humid and in addition could harbour and give rise to spread of, harmful bacteria/viruses/fungal intrusions. This paper presents information on typologies of dwellings and potential risks; it includes observations and measurements from a range of dwelling types gained at first hand. Whilst the research does not provide full solutions it indicates where risks exists and thus where future research efforts might be concentrated.

Period	10 Apr 2019
Event title	1st International Conference on: Comfort at the Extremes: Energy, Economy and Climate
Event type	Conference
Location	Dubai, United Arab Emirates