Re-educating Architects for Climate Reality

Day 260 🚨 "Designing for Climate Extremes: Architecture in the Age of Uncertainty" As climate change intensifies, architects face a new mandate: Design not just for aesthetics or function—but for resilience. Here’s how we can rethink architecture in the face of rising temperatures, wild weather, and ecological fragility: 1️⃣ Passive Design Isn't Optional Anymore In regions with extreme heat or cold, passive strategies like cross ventilation, thermal mass, and strategic shading are no longer luxuries—they're survival tools. 🏜️ Consider the windcatchers (badgirs) of Yazd, Iran—ancient systems that naturally cooled interiors centuries before HVAC. 💡 Solution: Orient buildings to maximize shade and airflow. Use materials with high thermal inertia. Incorporate climate-responsive facades and green roofs. “A well-designed wall can save more energy than any machine.” 2️⃣ Material Choice in a Warming World Traditional concrete contributes to global emissions and struggles in temperature fluctuation zones. Wildfires, floods, and salinity are reshaping how we think about longevity. 💡 Solution: Opt for low-carbon materials: hempcrete, rammed earth, or carbon-sequestering blocks. Use resilient detailing—elevated foundations, water-resistant cladding, and flexible joints. Learn from vernacular architecture: earthen walls, stone vaults, and compact forms. “The future of architecture may lie in the past.” 3️⃣ Buildings as Climate Shields Homes and public buildings must now double as refuges—from heatwaves, floods, and storms. This requires anticipating disruption, not just reacting to it. 💡 Solution: Build raised platforms and dry-proof basements in flood zones. Incorporate rainwater harvesting, solar integration, and thermal buffering. Case in point: The Floating School of Makoko, Nigeria—architecture adapted to life on water. “In an unstable world, architecture must be the stable element.” Balancing Aesthetics with Resilience 🌀 Form vs. Function: It’s no longer either/or—we must blend poetic beauty with practical climate defense. 🌱 Visual Impact vs. Ecological Footprint: Can your building look striking and sequester carbon? 🏗️ Designing for Comfort vs. Designing for Survival: The line is getting thinner. It’s time to design for both. What Can We Learn? Climate extremes are no longer “future problems.” They're design parameters today. The challenge isn’t just to resist climate forces—but to adapt with grace. 💡 Challenge: Can your next project endure the next 50 years of weather—and still inspire? “Are we designing buildings that survive the storm—or shape the next climate era?” Let’s talk. How are you incorporating resilience into your designs? 👇 Share your ideas and let’s exchange strategies. 📸 Images generated by AI – Midjourney #ClimateArchitecture #ResilientDesign #SustainableArchitecture #PassiveDesign #LowCarbonMaterials #ArchitecturalInnovation #VernacularArchitecture #DesignForDisaster #GreenBuilding

Climate resilience is perhaps even harder to think about than carbon reduction, for many in architecture and architectural education. I think it's at least partly because it means staring into future uncertainties and probabilities which are so worrying or distressing. But refusing to do so means we're producing buildings that avoidably worsen their users' chances of being safe and well through future heatwaves, storms and floods. The London Climate Resilience Review (link in comments) has a section on buildings and infrastructure that we should all read and reflect on. It includes really cheering case studies, and suggestions that are cheap and architecturally enriching to implement, like awnings, better landscaping and urban greening. I know some architects, landscape architects and architectural educators are pushing these agendas really impressively already, but how do you help colleagues and students who are understandably resistant to looking at near-future problems to do so bravely and usefully? And how do we support the skilling up of planning systems to challenge and prevent bad practice?

As a sustainability expert with over a decade of experience shaping sustainable built environments across India and the GCC region, I recently had the privilege of engaging with a dynamic group of new-age architects. In an era where the construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions and 30% of energy consumption (IEA, 2022), these approaches are not just innovative but essential for architects who aspire to lead in a rapidly evolving industry. Passive design harnesses natural elements, consists as sunlight, wind, and thermal mass, to create inherently energy-efficient buildings. By optimizing building orientation, incorporating high-performance glazing, and designing for natural ventilation, architects can reduce energy demands for heating and cooling by up to 30% in hot climates like those in India and the GCC (BEE India, 2020). Certified green buildings, such as those meeting LEED or IGBC standards, not only reduce operational costs by 20-30% but also command 7-10% higher rental premiums and attract eco-conscious tenants (USGBC, 2021). These benefits translate into tangible value for clients and a competitive edge for architects. I emphasized how mastering these concepts can be a game-changer for architects’ careers. The global green building market is projected to soar to $774 billion by 2027, driven by increasing regulatory mandates and client demand for sustainability (Research and Markets, 2023). In India, the IGBC aims to certify 10 billion square feet of green buildings by 2025, creating a surge in demand for professionals skilled in sustainable design. Similarly, in the GCC, initiatives like the UAE’s Estidama and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 are prioritizing green buildings, opening doors for architects who can deliver innovative, eco-friendly solutions. By earning credentials in passive design and green building certifications, architects can position themselves as sought-after experts in a market where sustainability is no longer a niche but a mainstream expectation. For aspiring architects at STRI Academy, this is a pivotal moment to invest in your professional growth. Credentials such as LEED Green Associate, IGBC Accredited Professional, or specialized training in passive design not only enhance your technical expertise but also signal your commitment to addressing global challenges like climate change. Employers and clients increasingly prioritize professionals who can deliver measurable sustainability outcomes. evidenced by the 15% higher employability rate for certified green building professionals (LinkedIn Workforce Report, 2023). Take the leap today, enhance your career, and become part of the movement to design a better, greener tomorrow. Visit STRI Academy - Start Your Green Building Career’s website www.striacademy.com to explore our courses and start your journey toward becoming a sustainability-driven architect.

What facilitates climate change action in architectural practice in Australia? We have a paper just published and available in open access: https://lnkd.in/dmPiUCmN We conducted interviews with Australian architectural practitioners to investigate their experience of barriers to and facilitators of climate change action in their professional practice. Four key themes were found: 1) actors, 2) processes and structures, 3) information and knowledge, and 4) the role of government. The facilitators identified are summarised in this graphic. Recommendations arising from the research include: 1) build architects' confidence and capability to be advocates; 2) develop of architects' climate change knowledge and competence; 3) transform design processes to be more circular, interdisciplinary and long term focused, and 4) reform current built environment policy to adequately consider climate change. With Georgia Warren-Myers, Sareh Moosavi, Dr. Peter Raisbeck, Judy Bush, Alan March, Geoffrey Browne.

🌊🌳 Chapter 28 Spotlight 🌍 We can’t build resilient cities unless we #teach future #architects and #planners to work with #nature. 🔍 Chapter Title: Architecture Studio Manual to Conduct Geospatial Analysis for Assessing Urban Water Bodies and Green Spaces: A Case Study of Mysuru Drainage Districts ✍️ Authors: @B.K. @Gagana, Kaushik R., Balaji Venkatachary 🟨 Theme: Architecture + Planning + Remote Sensing and GIS 📘 Book: Smart Buildings and Cities with Remote Sensing and GIS (1st Edition, 2025) ✍️ Book Editors: Dr. Shiv Mohan | Dr. Navneet Munoth, PhD | Ar. Neha Sharma 📍 Publisher: Taylor & Francis 📌 Key Insights: 🚀 Presents a replicable studio manual for teaching architecture & planning students to apply GIS & RS in urban waterbody and green space analysis 🚀 Focus areas: ✔️ Improving urban microclimate through weather & land-use analysis ✔️ Integrating blue and green networks with built environments and community needs 🚀 Bridges GIS/RS technology with architectural and urban design practice 🚀 Helps future architects and urban designers create more ecologically sensitive, climate-resilient urban spaces 💡 A must-read for: ✅ Architecture & planning educators ✅ Architecture, landscape, & urban design students ✅ Urban sustainability advocates ✅ GIS & remote sensing professionals ✅ Blue-Green Infrastructure designers & public realm planners 🌊🌳 #Architecture #education #must #evolve. Our final chapter presents a GIS-based studio guide for mapping blue-green networks — helping tomorrow’s architects design cities where water, greenery, and people can thrive together. As #urbanization and climate pressures mount, future #architects must be trained to design with nature. 📚 And with this, we complete our spotlight on this rich, interdisciplinary volume: 📕 Smart Buildings and Cities with Remote Sensing and GIS Taylor and Francis Website - https://lnkd.in/dj7bdDfX ResearchGate - https://lnkd.in/drjJKvNU Book - https://lnkd.in/dvYWHTvx Amazon - https://lnkd.in/dz_3s5uQ Taylor & Francis Group | CRC Press | Routledge | Taylor & Francis India Taylor and Francis India Routledge Taylor & Francis Group Taylor & Francis Research Insights TAYLOR AND FRANCIS BOOKS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED CRC Press (U.K.) LLC CRC Press Computer Science and IT CRC Press Edited Book #Architecture #UrbanDesign #GIS #RemoteSensing #UrbanGreenSpaces #UrbanWaterBodies #BlueGreenInfrastructure #Mysuru #UrbanEcology #SustainableCities #SmartCities #ClimateResilience #ArchitectureEducation #SpatialAnalysis #RSandGIS #SmartBuildings #BookLaunch #TaylorAndFrancis #FutureCities #UrbanPlanning #GeoAI #StudioManual #LandscapeArchitecture

Why it’s important for design studios to “climify” their work to future proof their studio. + Attract new clients who want to build a climate-positive future There are many companies out there trying hard to unf*ck the planet. Make them understand your stance on humanity’s biggest challenge. Plant your flag in the ground. Be bold. If they themselves are taking a stand, they will appreciate you doing the same. + Nudge existing clients towards climate action Don’t worry if your existing client isn’t focused on sustainability. You can implement simple changes and make climate-minded design decisions without much effort; implement better frameworks that focus on reducing carbon and waste, research and suggest alternative materials first, recommend local suppliers to reduce transport emissions, design modular elements that can be updated rather than replaced. Don’t even say the “S-word”, just do it. + Keep and attract employees who seek purpose in their work It’s no secret people, especially young professionals, want to spend their time on work that aligns with their values—many of those values are related to building and living in a climate-positive world. Consider factors like; types of clients you sign on, the resources used on projects, and the impact of the work after it’s “shipped”, ie environmental, societal, cultural. + Revamp your services to scale up impactful work There is no better time than now to re-assess your services and how you work. Take some time to audit the footprint of your services, invest in educating your design team to become climate designers, learn how to incorporate things like life-cycle analysis, circular design, regenerative design principles into your work. Business-as-usual got us all into this mess. It’s time to question norms and reimagine how designers and design studios show up in the business world. We hold tremendous power and influence. Let’s use it. Since 2016, I’ve been bridging the gap between design, climate, and business. As a designer working in climate, I specialize in strategy and user experience. I deliver wildly imaginative and effective work for climate-forward projects by bringing together my design experience and climate knowledge. If you are a design studio looking to level up your sustainability work, let’s talk.

When Power Fails: The Case for Climate/Heat-Smart Architecture in Ghana Walk or drive past Accra's modern high-rise buildings during a power outage and you'll notice something telling: windows awkwardly cracked open in sealed glass towers, occupants desperate for ventilation. These buildings, symbols of our architectural/cultural 'modernity', reveal a painful irony. They are designed to fight our climate rather than work with it. As the heat cranks up (a little fyi: January 2025 was the hottest month on record - ever), our building sector needs urgent rethinking. Recently, I stumbled on Burkinabé architect Francis Kéré Biébédo's groundbreaking work which offers a different (inspiring) vision for West African architecture. One that doesn't leave occupants at the mercy of air conditioning and stable power supply. Kéré's approach is brilliant in its simplicity: elevated roofs that promote natural air circulation, strategic positioning of buildings to minimize heat gain, and the use of local materials that naturally regulate temperature. His Gando Primary School project shows how thoughtful design can create comfortable spaces without energy-intensive cooling. Ghana's traditional architecture held similar wisdom. Consider, for example, our courtyard designs, the country-side mud and thatch houses and natural ventilation systems. As our cities grow and temperatures rise, we need to blend this indigenous knowledge with modern innovations. The question isn't whether we should build differently, but why we're still constructing buildings that work against our climate rather than with it. Every new government building, school, or market complex that ignores climate-smart principles locks us into decades of unnecessary energy costs and discomfort. We need building codes that mandate climate-responsive design. The technology exists. The knowledge exists. The African talents exist. What we need now is the will to build differently. Check out Biébédo's profile and works: diebedo-francis-kere-pritzker-2022 #ClimateArchitecture #Ghana #Sustainability #GreenBuilding