Architects are already looking into and developing self-cooling homes to help individuals in countries with excruciatingly hot summers find reprieve. Indian studio Samira Rathod Design Atelier produced one iteration of a self-cooling home called the Cool House. The building was "a direct response to the context, geography, and climate of its site in Bharuch, a city in Gujarat in western India with an extremely hot and arid summer climate."
A number of design decisions contribute to the cooling properties of the home. For example, the windows face inward which helps with diffusing "sharp light" and bringing in the breeze. Samira Rathod Design Atelier also included vertical courtyards that start from the first floor to "allow light and air to reach the spaces within the building.
Self-Cooling Homes
Samira Rathod Intends to Protect Occupants from Hot Indian Summers
Trend Themes
1. Self-cooling Homes - The trend of designing self-cooling homes to withstand hot climates is growing, presenting potential opportunities for innovation in energy efficiency and sustainable design.
2. Vertical Courtyards - The incorporation of vertical courtyards in building design, especially in hot climates, has the potential to create better airflow and natural cooling, offering innovation opportunities for sustainable architecture and landscaping.
3. Inward-facing Windows - The trend of designing inward-facing windows in self-cooling homes to diffuse sharp light and promote cross-ventilation presents an opportunity for disruption in energy conservation and alternative forms of lighting.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - The architecture industry has an opportunity to innovate by incorporating renewable materials and designing self-cooling properties in buildings to promote energy conservation during hot summers.
2. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry can benefit from the opportunity presented by self-cooling homes as they can generate sustainable power by implementing systems such as solar-thermal cooling and geothermal heat pumps.
3. Landscaping - With an increased trend of incorporating vertical courtyards in building design, the landscaping industry can innovate for sustainable designs by choosing drought-resistant plants and green walls that provide cooling and additional breathability.