The impact of urban form on the energy efficiency of residential buildings in a hot climate. Case study: Ouargla city.

This article examines the impact of different urban forms on building energy consumption for cooling in the hot, arid climate of Ouargla, a city in southeast Algeria. Using a mixed-methods approach combining numerical simulations with DesignBuilder software and qualitative surveys of residents, the study compares three distinct urban fabrics—traditional compact (Ksar), medium-density modern (Said Otba-1), and dispersed multi-family housing—focusing on parameters such as urban geometry (height-to-width ratio) and building envelope characteristics (U-value). Results indicate that the traditional compact urban form with higher density and thicker building envelopes significantly reduces cooling energy demand and improves outdoor thermal comfort compared to more dispersed, modern urban fabrics. The findings highlight the importance of integrating urban form and architectural design strategies early in the planning process to enhance energy efficiency and thermal comfort in hot desert environments.