Hugo, J and Farhadian, M (2026) Living labs and building testing labs: Enabling climate change adaptation. Buildings & Cities, 7(1), pp. 126-142. ISSN 2632-6655
Abstract
Climate action requires rapid, evidence-based and locally appropriate adaptation measures. Effective responses in the built environment depend on integrated, multilevel solutions developed through inter-and transdisciplinary collaboration. Long-term, effective adaptation must fulfil five key criteria: contextual fitness, capacity for local implementation, systemic transformation, future-oriented planning and flexibility to avoid maladaptation. This study applies this analytical framework derived from climate adaptation theory to observational analyses and expert interviews to examine how building technology laboratories (BTLs) and living labs (LLs) facilitate systemic and context-specific adaptation in the built environment. By analysing purposely selected research institutions, the study conveys the potential of these laboratories to drive transformational climate change adaptation. These findings are discussed in relation to their relevance for resource-constrained regions. The cross-case study analysis of selected research facilities can inform the establishment of similar facilities in the Southern Africa region, contributing to climate adaptation research, enhancing local adaptive capacity and promoting long-term regional resilience.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | adaptation; adaptation capacity; Africa; building technology laboratories; built environment; cities; living labs; research infrastructure |
| Index terms: | implementation, testing, built environment, adaptation, transformation, adaptive capacity, case study, Africa, research institution, climate change, analytical framework, evidence, collaboration, climate adaptation, observation analysis, research facility, building technology, interview, laboratory |
| Subjects: | professional practice, contractual arrangements, evaluation and assessment methods, construction type, user focus, climate science, research management, urban design, data science, data analysis and analytics, regions and continents, data collection methods, business, engineering systems, infrastructure and transport systems, management |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Procurement, Engineering Principles, Geographical Context, Organizational Design, Urban Studies, Design Practice, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here