Why climate-responsive architecture will be the future of design

Cavity walls to retain heat, metal jaalis to cool buildings — climate-responsive architecture will be key in the days to come. An expert-approved blueprint on indigenous design

A 2020 report by the McKinsey Global Institute, titled ‘Will India get too hot to work?’ states that ‘India could become one of the first places in the world to experience heat waves that cross the survivability limit for a healthy human being resting in the shade, and this could occur as early as next decade’.

Among other ways to mitigate this, the report suggests undertaking reflective power heat management efforts in cities, and establishing early-warning systems and cooling shelters to protect people. Which is why, adopting climate-responsive design is one of the most crucial aspects the construction industry can look into, given that the sector is responsible for 38% global greenhouse gas emissions, of which steel and cement production itself is responsible for 15%.

“It is important to be aware of the climate and the surroundings that we are building in. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel again and again. Older traditional houses of the region that have stood the test of time can be a good reference, to analyse and document these systems and then tweak them as per our requirements,” says Pune-based Priyanka Gunjikar, Principal Architect of Building in Mud.

Take for instance Gunjikar’s project near Mandangad, Maharashtra. Badly hit by the Nisarg cyclone a few years back, the duo made a framed structure using local wood and laterite infill for the walls as seen in the traditional housing typology of the region. “In such a climate, we did not need thick walls for thermal mass but needed better finishes that act as humidity regulators. When the cyclone hit the structure, a few locals residing around saw the roof on one side go up by two feet and rest back in its original position. The only damage to the house was some minor plaster cracks on the walls. On the other hand, the new RCC structures around us had far more damage with broken slabs, walls and metal roofs that had flown away,” explains Gunjikar.

Noted architect Benny Kuriakose, known for his sustainable building practices, has always championed indigenous techniques and been vocal about where modern architecture is going wrong. “The environmental circumstances in which the structures are supposed to function are fundamentally changing as a result of climate change and global warming. Climate change poses an existential threat, and buildings are a major contributor,” he wrote in his May 2022 blog ‘Western Style Construction Influence On Climate Change and Extreme Heat Effect’.

So, for someone constructing their home or office in tune with climate-responsive design principles, there are a few key factors to be considered. These include achieving natural ventilation and daylight within buildings, using appropriate building materials that are insulating and regional, and ensuring we have adequate exposure to natural vegetation, says Anupama Mohanram, architect and founder of Chennai-based firm, Green Evolution.

At The Palmyra, Ekkaduthangal, an office building she designed, principles of energy-efficiency and water conservation are a few eco-sensitive features included. “We have also designed a façade of handmade bricks and metal  jaalis in a custom design. This is to aid ventilation and bring in interesting light and shadow patterns,” explains Mohanram.