Climate-Adaptive Modular Micro-Living for Urban Regeneration: A Passive Design and Low-Carbon Construction Framework

This study proposes a climate-adaptive framework for modular micro-living units as a construction-based response to growing urban challenges related to climate resilience, densification, and housing affordability. The design integrates prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures, phase-change materials (PCMs), double-skin ventilated façades, and green roofs to support passive thermal regulation and circular lifecycle principles, including Design-for-Disassembly (DfD). Parametric environmental simulations were conducted using Ladybug Tools to assess thermal performance across three representative climate zones—Mediterranean, humid subtropical, and cold continental. Results indicate that annual energy demands range from 52 to 70 kWh/m², while embodied carbon footprints vary between 195 and 225 kgCO₂e/m², remaining within global benchmarks such as the Passive House standard. These outcomes demonstrate that micro-units can maintain high energy performance across climatic contexts without compromising modular scalability or construction efficiency. By embedding passive strategies into standardized construction logic, the proposed system enables flexible adaptation to regional environmental pressures, supporting long-term urban regeneration goals. The findings advance the role of engineering-driven micro-living as a viable, scalable, and low-impact typology for future urban housing systems. Further research should explore physical prototyping and post-occupancy evaluations to bridge the gap between simulation-driven design and in-situ performance validation.