Brief 

Discover seven cutting-edge design strategies that architects employ to ensure buildings remain cooler amidst intensifying heat waves, reducing dependency on air-conditioning and promoting passive cooling methods.

 

Insight

As the world grapples with escalating heat waves, there’s a rising need to ensure our buildings are not only efficient but also resilient. While air-conditioning systems are the traditional go-to solution, they are not always sustainable in the face of strained power grids. There is a need to pivot towards architectural solutions that inherently keep buildings cooler.

1. Umbrella Roofs

The advent of large overhang roofs, often referred to as “umbrella” roofs, are gaining prominence. By providing shade to windows, they reduce the influx of heat, also benefiting pedestrians.

2.Sun Spaces

In an innovative experiment, the University of Oregon has divided a dorm room to create a “sun space” – an enclosed patio that acts as a buffer against the heat. This design can potentially revolutionise apartment building retrofits.

3.Building Shapes Matter

The shape of a building has a profound impact on its thermal performance. Spherical structures, due to their lesser surface area, are more efficient. This insight led to the rethinking of a design at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory from a three-story rectangle to a more efficient square structure.

4.Green Roofs

While white roof coatings are commonly promoted, they have their drawbacks, potentially heating up the surrounding microclimate. Green roofs laden with plants offer a more holistic approach to maintaining cooler indoor temperatures.

5.Predictive Modelling

Architects at the University of California utilised software to anticipate future climate conditions and subsequently modelled building designs that would be most efficient.

6.Shifting the Core

By moving the core elements of a building such as elevators and stairs to the south, it can act as an insulator, thus reducing the need for cooling and creating more open space inside.

7.Think Horizontally

High-rise buildings with flat glass facades tend to absorb heat. Introducing horizontal designs like balconies can naturally shade and cool the floors below.

These strategies mark the importance of passive design in building resilience against escalating temperatures. Aided by both low-tech choices and foresight, architects can drive the move towards a more sustainable future.

 

Highlight

  1. As the world grapples with escalating heat waves, there’s a rising need to ensure our buildings are not only efficient but also resilient
  2. Aided by both low-tech choices and foresight, architects can drive the move towards a more sustainable future.

 

READ MORE

 

Related Questions:

Share
Top