Reviving Passive Cooling: Ancient Techniques for Modern Architecture
Traditional building solutions, refined over centuries using local materials and techniques, are being revisited as a response to the homogenization of construction and dependence on global supply chains. The resurgence of passive cooling methods is driven by high energy costs of artificial air conditioning, global warming, and UN projections that a significant portion of future megacities will be in hot climates of Africa and Asia. The article questions whether ancient cooling techniques can be adapted for contemporary buildings, highlighting a rupture in knowledge transfer across generations.
Key facts
- Traditional building solutions have withstood hundreds of years of testing and improvements.
- Globalization has led to homogenization of construction solutions and dependence on global supply chains.
- Passive cooling solutions for buildings are experiencing a resurgence.
- High energy costs of artificial cooling and global warming are driving the interest in passive cooling.
- UN population growth projections indicate many future megacities will be in hot climates of Africa and Asia.
- The article explores applying ancient cooling techniques to contemporary buildings.
- Traditional knowledge transfer has been disrupted, leading to disappearance of traditions.
- The article is from ArchDaily.
Entities
Artists
- Christian Richters
Institutions
- ArchDaily
- Thapar University
- Mccullough Mulvin Architects
- Designplus Associates Services
- United Nations
Locations
- Africa
- Asia