Old Dubai was built in the 1700s, and to withstand the hot, harsh climate of the Arabian Desert, the city was designed to utilize architectural features and technologies that create passive cooling within the city. These features include wind towers, or barjeels, light-coloured coral, enclosed courtyards, latticed windows known as mashrabiyas, and sikkas, which are narrow walkways formed by tall walls. While these designs can still be found in Old Dubai, they have also been incorporated into buildings throughout the UAE, as well as in other countries like Spain and India.
According to Vrushali Mhatre, an assistant professor in interior architecture and design, “barjeels are one of the most effective approaches to cooling houses in the Gulf region.” These traditional wind towers work by capturing cooler breezes at a higher elevation and directing them inside, creating natural ventilation. The cool air is able to circulate inside while the hot air rises and escapes the building. Bajeels have been effective at reducing internal temperatures by nearly 10°C in some areas.
Other features, like sikkas and mashrabiyas, work to promote air flow while minimizing inhabitants' exposure to the sun. Sikkas are narrow, shaded pedestrian walkways that allow residents to move about outside while remaining relatively cool. Mashrabiyas help to block some of the sunlight that enters into buildings, while still allowing air to circulate. Some buildings, like the Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi, have mashrabiya screens that will respond to the position of the sun and open or close accordingly.
An impressive example of how effective it can be to combine these passive cooling techniques is Masdar City, located on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. The area was designed to have narrow streets and closely spaced buildings to help promote natural ventilation and maximize shade. Wind towers and mashrabiyas are also incorporated throughout the buildings. Due to its design, Masdar City has been shown to have ambient temperatures that are lower than the surrounding environment by as much as 10°C, and the buildings with passive cooling techniques consume 40% less energy than those in Abu Dhabi with more conventional designs. According to officials, Masdar City has cut its overall energy consumption by 38.4% by reducing how much its residents need to rely on mechanical cooling.
Taking inspiration from people’s designs and strategies from the past may help us create towns and cities that are more resistant to the rising global temperatures, without having to rely so heavily on air conditioning and other mechanical methods of cooling. Have you ever seen some of the passive cooling methods mentioned above?