Adaptive Urban Morphologies in Semi-Arid Contexts: Integrating Architectural Intelligence and Planning Systems for Climate Resilience in North African Cities

Abstract

Urban resilience frameworks remain insufficiently adapted to semi-arid cities characterized by rapid urbanization, climatic stress, and hybrid formal– informal morphologies. This article identifies a structural gap in theintegration of climate-responsive architectural strategies with urban-scale planning systems in North African contexts. It advances a morphology-driven analytical model linking spatial configuration, microclimatic performance, and socio-spatial adaptability. A mixed-method approach is employed, combining urban morphological analysis, environmental simulation, and comparative case studies. The study demonstrates that compact, climate- responsive morphologies significantly improve thermal comfort and reduce energy demand compared to fragmented expansion patterns. The findings support a transition from universal sustainability models toward context- specific, performance-based urban design frameworks.