COOLWALK
Summary
Buildings and neighborhoods: energy efficiency and environmental impact
Smart Living Lab (HEIA-FR)
EPFL, Université de Fribourg, Canton Fribourg, Ville de Fribourg, Association Mobilité Piétonne Suisse, Bureau Action Située, CCIF
Marc Vonlanthen
Skills directory
September 2026 - August 2028
COOLWALK investigates how urban heat islands affect walkability to design city centres that are more resilient, comfortable and attractive in the face of climate change.
The COOLWALK research project addresses a growing challenge for contemporary cities: how can pedestrian mobility be preserved and strengthened in a context of climate change? As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, city centres are increasingly exposed to urban heat island effects, which directly influence the comfort, accessibility and attractiveness of walking.
Led by HEIA-FR in collaboration with EPFL, the University of Fribourg and several institutional, associative and economic partners, COOLWALK aims to understand and quantify the impact of the urban climate on “walkability”, namely a city’s ability to support pleasant, safe and accessible pedestrian movement. The project will develop an innovative indicator combining thermal comfort parameters with mobility behaviours and user experience.
Using urban simulations, field measurement campaigns and participatory surveys, researchers will analyse pedestrian routes in selected city centres within the canton of Fribourg. The collected data will help model the impact of heat on mobility habits and identify urban design strategies that best support climate-resilient active mobility, including vegetation, shading, permeable materials, pedestrian continuity and the organisation of public spaces.
COOLWALK will produce practical tools for public authorities, urban planning professionals, mobility associations and economic stakeholders. The objective is to provide recommendations that can be directly integrated into urban planning processes and local climate strategies. The project will also raise public awareness through participatory approaches and the creation of exemplary pedestrian routes.
By improving the quality of walking environments, COOLWALK simultaneously supports public health, social cohesion, economic vitality in city centres and the transition towards more sustainable mobility systems. Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute to new urban models capable of adapting to climate challenges while remaining liveable, attractive and accessible to everyone.