Gonzalo Besuievsky

Prof. Dr. Gonzalo Besuievsky

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

26Years (2001-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 December 2012 in Computers & Graphics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EFEduardo Fernández
Eduardo Fernández
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky

1 June 2013 in Computers & Graphics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SBSantiago Barroso
Santiago Barroso
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky
GPGustavo Patow
Gustavo Patow

27 May 2013 in Computer Graphics Forum
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky
GPGustavo Patow
Gustavo Patow

1 January 2014 in Automation in Construction
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EFEduardo Fernández
Eduardo Fernández
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky

24 October 2025 in Urban Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EGElena Garcia-Nevado
Elena Garcia-Nevado
Judit Lopez-BesoraJudit Lopez-Besora
Judit Lopez-Besora
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky
Balconies are widely recognized for enhancing urban livability, making them attractive elements to incorporate in building renovation projects. However, their impact on energy performance remains insufficiently studied, particularly in temperate climates, like the Mediterranean, where both heating and cooling demands must be considered. This article evaluates the energy impacts of integrating open balconies into housing retrofits on the space conditioning demand of dwellings through spatialized analysis at the urban block scale. Focusing on Barcelona’s Eixample district, a parametric Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) was employed to assess how balcony design interacts with urban morphology (orientation, obstructions), building features (window-to-wall ratio, WWR), and balcony length. Results reveal a seasonal trade-off at the block scale: balconies increase heating demand (0.1–1.6 kWh/m2·yr) by reducing winter solar gain but decrease cooling demand (0.1–3.8 kWh/m2·yr) through summer shading. Net effects vary by unit position, with south-facing and moderately glazed dwellings benefiting the most. Deeper balconies (1.5–2 m) amplify both effects, while optimal depth depends on the window-to-wall ratio. Under future climates, retrofits combining insulation and balconies mitigate rising cooling demands more effectively than insulation alone, reducing block-level demand by up to 16%. Although balconies alone show modest energy savings at the block scale, they enhance localized thermal resilience. The study highlights the need for integrated retrofit strategies that balance thermal insulation with solar protection to address both current and future energy challenges while enhancing occupant well-being.

1 April 2015 in Computers & Graphics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
EFEduardo Fernández
Eduardo Fernández
GBGonzalo Besuievsky
Gonzalo Besuievsky