Designing for climate

nicholas plan and design integrated developments and 15-minute cities in Middle East locations in which we design for climate and work with it to positively enhance the outdoor environment.

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Strategies can include the extensive use of green space, planting of shade trees and the introduction of structures to provide shade.

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The oversailing roof of this residential precinct acts as a massive shade structure, introducing filtered natural light into the pedestrian alleyways beneath and keeping solar energy off the façades.

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This intervention, together with the introduction of extensive landscaping and water features – which reduce external temperatures via natural evaporative cooling – has been proven to bring down summer temperatures by up to seven degrees Celsius. 

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There is nothing new about this. Traditional forms of architecture in the region have been doing it for centuries. Our approach is to learn from the past, reinvent, and carry the knowledge forward in new ways.

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Urban design can be used to redefine civic space and increase “walkability”. Occupying an entire city block, everything within this major urban precinct is walkable.