Melting Metropolis: Everyday Histories of Health and Heat in London, New York, and Paris since 1945

Londoners, New Yorkers, and Parisians have been living with dangerous heat for decades, not just during heatwaves but in the everyday grind of hot apartments, sweltering streets, and overheated workplaces. This project addresses a gap in how we understand urban heat and health. Most research focuses on extreme heat events, but the abstract argues that chronic, everyday exposure to high temperatures has shaped urban life and health inequities since 1945, particularly for marginalised communities. By examining three global cities through historical records, community engagement, and participatory art, the team aims to move beyond the concept of "resilience" — which can imply communities should simply adapt — toward a deeper understanding of how people have actually experienced and mitigated heat. If successful, the research could reshape how city planners, public health officials, and policymakers think about urban heat. Rather than only preparing for heatwave emergencies, they might redesign housing, transport, and public spaces to address the quieter, daily toll of high temperatures. The project also aims to create new conversations between academics and the public on the intersection of climate crisis and city life, offering fresh perspectives on urban history, environmental history, and the medical humanities.