16th Century Architecture Offers Lessons for Modern Passive Cooling Designs
CHENNAI, India—A nearly 500-year-old architecture style could still be used today to provide passive cooling in hot, dry areas, according to an article in the New Indian Express newspaper. Mughal architecture in India takes its name from a Persian dynasty that took over large parts of Northern India in the 1500s through the 1800s. The Mughals developed ingenious ways to beat the summer heat in the arid desert areas. Each design element was a response to the climate. One of the hallmarks of Persian buildings is a four-part garden laid out with axial paths or water channels that intersect at the center. This controls the microclimate around the building with the help of vegetation and water. Mughals introduced unique layered spaces to Indian architecture. They realized that rooms should not be flooded with direct daylight. Therefore, they used intermediary spaces such as courtyards and verandas to buffer and protect interiors from extreme weather conditions. Mughals used the thermal mass of thick walls of masonry or other materials with low thermal conductivity that have low transmittance value of heat. According to the article, some modern architects have successfully adopted environmental features of Mughal architecture and incorporated them into contemporary designs.
