Occupant Behaviour as a Climate Adaptation Mechanism in Low-Income Housing: Evidence from Al-Asmarat Housing Project in Cairo, Egypt

Extreme summer heat poses increasing risks to thermal comfort in low-income housing, where mechanical cooling is often limited. This study investigates indoor thermal conditions, occupant behaviours, and perceived thermal comfort across ten dwellings in Al-Asmarat housing project, which represents a prototype of low-income housing development in Cairo. In-situ monitoring was combined with household surveys and qualitative observations to examine how occupants experience and adapt to overheating. Results show persistently high indoor temperatures, particularly in bedrooms, alongside widespread dissatisfaction with thermal comfort. Occupants employed a range of behavioural adaptation strategies, including window operation, fan use, humidification practices, and spatial reorganisation; however, these responses were frequently constrained by building design, occupancy density, privacy and safety concerns, and regulations restricting façade modifications. Importantly, thermal perception and satisfaction were not always aligned, revealing culturally mediated tolerance and adaptive expectations that challenge conventional comfort models. The findings highlight the limits of behavioural adaptation under extreme heat and underscore the need for housing policies and design approaches that support both climatic responsiveness and everyday lived practices in low-income contexts.