MICROCLIMATIC DIFFERENTIATION OF LOW-RISE HOUSING IN SOUTH-EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Bioclimatic design of low-rise housing in South-Eastern Kazakhstan is constrained by sharply continental climate conditions, pronounced seasonal temperature contrasts, complex terrain, and uneven urban aeration. Conventional design approaches based on averaged regional climate data fail to reflect local variations in temperature, wind, solar exposure, and humidity caused by urban morphology, relief, and landscaping. The aim of the study is to develop a differentiated architectural and planning model for low-rise housing based on microclimatic conditions. The methodology combines comparative-typological analysis, bioclimatic assessment, and graphic-analytical interpretation using case studies of Almaty, Konaev, and Taldykorgan. The comparative analytical component includes the assessment of three representative residential districts formed in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods using measurable spatial and environmental indicators, including development density, building spacing, orientation, degree of enclosure, and basic ventilation characteristics. The qualitative assessment covers spatial configuration, insolation conditions, wind regime and aeration, integration of green elements, thermal adaptation, and energy performance. The results show that urban territories are microclimatically heterogeneous and consist of distinct zones with different combinations of climatic and morphological parameters, affecting ventilation conditions, solar access, and thermal comfort. Five site types were identified: wind-exposed, moderately protected, stagnant-air, green/recreational, and terrain-influenced zones, each requiring specific architectural responses. The identified relationships between spatial configuration and microclimatic performance provide a basis for translating environmental conditions into design parameters. The study proposes a differentiated model of architectural and planning solutions based on microclimatic zoning, enabling context-sensitive design, improving environmental performance, and supporting the development of climate-responsive low-rise housing in Kazakhstan.