Abstract
AbstractClimate change poses a serious threat to urban environments, particularly in coastal and low lying areas such as the Nile Delta in Egypt, where sea levels are projected to rise by up to 0.65 m by 2100 (IPCC, 2021). At the same time, more frequent and intense heatwaves are affecting public open spaces, especially urban squares that rely on conventional high thermal mass materials, thereby intensifying the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and reducing outdoor thermal comfort. This research investigates sustainable architectural solutions based on environmentally friendly, low-thermal-absorption paving materials to reduce surface temperatures and enhance the climatic adaptability of Egyptian urban squares. The study assumes that replacing conventional materials with alternatives characterized by suitable thermal properties can lower surface temperatures and CO₂ emissions, thereby improving usability and mitigating heat stress. The methodology combines a theoretical review, analytical assessment of key causes of heat retention in Egyptian squares, and an applied thermal simulation using Design Builder for three alternative scenarios green pavements (Case A), permeable pavements (Case B), and reflective concrete (Case C) in New Damietta City. The results show that green pavements reduce air temperature by 2.11 °C compared with the baseline, while reflective concrete achieves the highest reduction in CO₂ emissions. These findings highlight the potential of material choice as a practical lever for mitigating urban heat and improving the sustainability of public square design in Egypt.