Study on the micro-climate suitability and spatial optimization patterns of waterfront residential areas in cold regions

Waterfront areas are among the hotspots for residential construction. Enhancing outdoor environmental comfort for residents in waterfront residential areas in cold regions is a key consideration for designers. This paper takes the design scheme of the Tianjia-lake residential area in Tianjin, China, as an example to analyze the microclimate-suitable spatial patterns for waterfront residential areas in cold regions. Based on the relationship with water bodies, the residential area is divided into three cluster types: "bay," "island," and "shore. "Using ENVI-met software, this study simulates the outdoor thermal environments of the three cluster models, evaluating temperature, wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation to quantify human comfort using PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) values. Simulation results show that the "bay" cluster achieves optimal comfort in winter through a circular gradient layout with ventilation corridors maintaining wind speeds between 2–5 m/s. The "island" cluster, adopting a finger-shaped enclosed layout, maintains average wind speeds of 3 m/s, balancing summer ventilation and winter wind protection. The "shore" cluster, with a strip-shaped permeable layout, controls wind speeds below 6 m/s via green corridors, maximizing the climatic benefits of adjacent water bodies. According to these quantified results, suitable spatial layout models for different types of waterfront clusters are proposed. By adjusting spatial forms based on simulation data, this paper improves the outdoor micro-climate comfort of waterfront residential areas and provides design references for similar developments in cold regions.