Resilience through Built Morphology: A CFD-Based Evaluation of Wind-Driven Urban Heat Island Adaptation in Residential Blocks of Bangalore

Rapid urban densification in Indian cities has intensified Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects, particularly at the residential block scale where everyday life unfolds. While conventional mitigation strategies emphasize vegetation, material substitution, and technological add-ons, the role of built morphology in regulating airflow and enabling convective heat dissipation remains underexplored. This research positions residential block morphology as an active climatic infrastructure capable of influencing wind behaviour and, by extension, urban thermal resilience. The study comparatively evaluates two morphologically contrasting residential urban blocks in Bangalore: a high-density compact configuration (Case A) and a low-density porous configuration (Case B). Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted using Vayu Pravaah to analyze air velocity magnitude and static pressure distribution across multiple vertical sections under identical wind conditions (300° from North, 15 m/s reference velocity). Results indicate that compact morphologies generate strong windward pressure build-up, deep leeward suction zones, and extended stagnation pockets, thereby limiting airflow penetration and pressure equalization. In contrast, porous configurations demonstrate distributed airflow pathways, reduced aerodynamic resistance, and improved internal ventilation continuity. The findings establish wind behaviour as a measurable intermediary linking built form to convective heat dissipation potential. The study contributes a morphology–ventilation–resilience framework that repositions architectural configuration as a foundational climate adaptation strategy at the urban block scale.