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Hot cities: climate-resilient construction as the key to adaptation. Increasing urbanisation and climate change are causing cities to become hotter and hotter. These so-called "hot cities" pose a challenge, as extreme temperatures affect the quality of life of residents and put a strain on infrastructure. In the current issue of SOUQ magazine, Thomas Lücking explains how climate-resilient construction can be used to respond to this development. Through climate-resilient construction, buildings and urban structures can withstand the effects of climate change and at the same time contribute to reducing heat islands. One example of this is the King Fahad National Library, which is characterised by an ornamental façade consisting of rhomboid-shaped textile sails. While traditional Saudi architecture often screens out natural daylight and sunlight and requires artificial lighting inside, the unusual façade structure specifically regulates the high levels of solar radiation. The roof zone is also part of the lighting system. It is equipped with narrow skylights and white plastic membranes that reflect direct sunlight and allow filtered daylight to flow into the interior in a controlled manner. Layered ventilation and floor cooling are particularly important for the interior. Only the lower three metres, which correspond to the actual occupied area, are kept at a pleasant temperature. Together with the square in front of it, the King Fahad National Library represents an unusual combination of traditional construction and climate and energy-sensitive design. You can read the full article here from p. 36 - https://lnkd.in/eC6_phgW #architecture #hotcities #climateresilient

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