Hugo, JanSonnendecker, Paul Walter2024-02-202024-02-202024-09Hugo, J.M. & Sonnendecker, P.W. 2024, 'Ground-level documentation of heat stress exposure and response strategies in informal settlements in Tshwane, South Africa', Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. 13 No. 5, pp. 1177-1193. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-10-2022-0229.2046-609910.1108/SASBE-10-2022-0229http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94758This project is undertaken as part of the Architecture and Public Health Nexus project in collaboration with the departments of Public Health, Architecture and Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria.PURPOSE – The adverse impacts of climate change coupled with rapid informal urbanization in the Southern African region are increasing the vulnerability of already sensitive population groups. Consequently, these urban regions are highly vulnerable to urban heat island effects and heatwaves due to exogenous and endogenous factors. While the dynamic interplay between the built environment, climate and response strategies is known, this paper highlights the lived experience of informal settlement residents. It presents work from a project undertaken in Melusi, an informal settlement in Tshwane, South Africa, as a multi-disciplinary project focusing on improving the local resilience to climate change associated heat stress. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH – Following a mixed method approach, a semi-structured observational analysis of the spatial layout and material articulation of selected dwellings along with the continuous monitoring and recording of their indoor environments were undertaken. FINDINGS – The paper presents the research results in terms of the dwelling characteristics, as spatial and material-use strategies and documented heat stress exposure in these structures. The findings highlight that informal dwellings perform poorly in all cases due to endogenous factors and that inhabitants experience extreme heat stress conditions for between 6 and 10 h daily during the peak summer period. ORIGINALITY/VALUE – Currently, there are little empirical data on the heat stress residents living in informal settlements in Southern Africa are experiencing. This article provides insight into the indoor environments of informal dwellings and hopes to contribute future guidelines or heat health policies.en© Jan Marais Hugo and Paul Walter Sonnendecker. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence.Adaptive capacityClimate change adaptationHeat stressInformal urbanismThermal comfortInformal dwellingsSDG-11: Sustainable cities and communitiesArticle