A STUDY ON THE VERTICALIZATION OF THE SOUTH SHORE OF ILHÉUS IN RELATION TO SHADING ON THE BEACH STRIP

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of shading caused by the verticalization of buildings in the southern area of Ilhéus (BA), focusing on the impacts on the economy of beach huts and the thermal comfort of the region. Accelerated and disorderly urban growth has resulted in the construction of tall buildings close to the shore, generating extensive areas of shade on the sand for much of the day. This change in environmental dynamics compromises tourist attractive-ness, reduces the time visitors spend on the beaches and, consequently, af-fects the revenue of local merchants, especially those who depend on sun ex-posure to attract customers. The research adopts a mixed methodological ap-proach, combining bibliographic review, shade mapping, interviews with work-ers at the huts and on-site environmental sensory inspections, such as thermal sensations. The data collected allow us to understand the relationship be-tween vertical urbanization and microclimatic changes, in addition to highlight-ing the resulting socioeconomic losses. The results obtained aim to support more balanced public urban planning policies, which consider the environ-mental limits of the coastal zone and promote sustainable development, inte-grating economic growth, social well-being and preservation of coastal ecosys-tems.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.029-106