Building Uses Ancient Method of Sustainable Cooling

JAIPUR, India—The Pearl Academy of Fashion is kept 20°C (36°F) cooler inside than outside because of an ancient technique. The exterior keeps with the trends of contemporary design. However, at the base of the building is a vast pool of water—a cooling concept taken directly from the stepwell structures developed locally over 1,500 years ago to provide refuge from the desert heat. The architect who designed the academy explains that baoli (the Hindi word for stepwell) are bodies of water encased by a descending set of steps. "When water evaporates in heat, it immediately brings down the temperature of the space around it," said Manit Rastogi. The 215,000 ft² (20,000 m²) building also incorporates walls that are made from a heat-absorbing material. The walls create a "thermal bank" that slowly releases heat at night when the temperature drops.


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Source: CNN
Picture: Courtesy of Habitat