All’ombra del Chiostro: Analisi Microclimatiche delle Strutture Claustrali e Strategie per il Progetto fra Conservazione e Innovazione

This study explored the potential of cloisters in historical buildings to act as passive microclimate regulators and investigated design strategies for their adaptation to climate change. Focusing on the Saint Agostino monastery in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, the research uses an integrated approach based on microclimate simulations to analyse the cloister’s thermal performance. This study considers the building’s historical context and current use, as well as the local climate, which is characterised by increasing heat stress. Initial analysis revealed significant differences in perceived temperature (UTCI) across the cloister loggia during the hottest week, with higher values on the south and west sides indicating thermal discomfort. A design intervention involving the partial closure of the cloister with transparent and opaque elements was proposed. Simulations showed a drastic improvement in thermal comfort after the intervention, with UTCI values becoming uniform and significantly lower across all sides of the loggia. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the targeted design strategies in enhancing the microclimatic performance of historical cloisters. The integrated simulation approach provides valuable insights for the sustainable conservation and adaptive reuse of these spaces, balancing heritage preservation with climate change adaptation and user comfort. Further studies can extend this methodology to other historical buildings.