Architectural lessons for the future, via the past

an article by Amin Al-Habaibeh (Nottingham Trent University, UK) published in UNESCO Courier (October-December 2019)

Modern cities, with their paved roads and glass towers, are hardly adapted to cope with the expected rise in temperatures. Designed to provide shade and air circulation, traditional buildings in the Middle East, Gulf and African countries could inspire more sustainable and environmentally-friendly habitats in other parts of the world.

As a result of global warming and the rise in greenhouse gas levels, cities across the world are increasingly likely to be exposed to extreme temperatures. This is particularly true in the Gulf countries, where temperatures are expected to rise to over 50 ℃ during the twenty-first century. But these heat surges have not spared other regions of the world – particularly Europe, where during the summer of 2019, record temperatures were reached in France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, among other countries.

Today, lifestyles and architecture are dependent on air conditioning, and modern materials such as concrete, asphalt or glass. These materials, however, are not adapted to high temperatures.

Glass reflects solar radiation to the surrounding area, creating heat islands and the risk of a greenhouse effect inside buildings.

Asphalt also absorbs a large part of the sun's rays, which it converts into a heat flux – thus contributing to warming the local environment.

Concrete, on the other hand, consumes a lot of energy during its production, contributing to global warming through carbon emissions.

In addition, modern urban planning does not favour public transportation. This makes private cars a necessity, creating more pollution and localized heat islands, especially when combined with the air-conditioning systems of buildings.

Historically, before the adoption of the modern way of life, most people on the planet lived in a more harmonious way with their environment. They were either farmers within oases, agricultural or fishing village communities, Bedouins or nomads living in tents in the desert, or urban dwellers living in cities.

The materials they selected to build their dwellings came from the environment. They were sustainable, adapted to their way of life, and based on what is now termed a circular economy. Due to their travelling lifestyles and animal herding, the Bedouins lived in tents that were optimized for protection against the weather, and for flexibility. The tents were designed and built to function effectively with the environment – they were woven using available resources like goat hair and sheep’s wool. This is why they are called “houses of hair” in Arabic.

Continue reading and discover ways in which we can combat some of these effects. If not for ourselves for the sake of those who are coming after us.

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