KARACHI:
Karachi is once again facing the effects of an intense heatwave. We need to step back and adapt to the norms of our forefathers as, in our busy schedules, we have forgotten to perform small acts of kindness that go a long way. Old houses have been replaced by portions, leaving almost no room for a garden area for planting trees and placing water bowls for birds or wall-fitted water coolers.
Concrete, asbestos in some cases, and an increased use of glass walls are trapping in heat, increasing the need for air conditioning even during times when it may not have been needed. Resultantly, it adds to the burden on the power resources serving the city.
Karachi must also look beyond temporary relief and rethink how its buildings are designed. Nature already offers powerful lessons. Termite mounds survive extreme heat through thick, porous earthen walls and solar-driven convection that naturally circulates air and regulates temperature. Architects around the world have adapted these biomimicry principles through passive cooling, thermal-mass walls, shaded openings, courtyards and ventilation chimneys. Such designs can reduce dependency on air conditioners, lower electricity demand and make buildings more resilient during heatwaves. For a city like Karachi where heat and dense construction combine into a public health crisis, climate-sensitive architecture is a necessity!
Ali Altaf
Karachi
