May 19th, 2015: Mr. Luca Donner, Assistant Professor of Architecture at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), has revealed some of the solutions to sustainable construction in the desert, in a recent research paper that explores the challenges of creating a building or settlement in an arid climate.
Mr. Donner presented his paper, entitled “Breathing House, Qanat Villa and Heartshaped Micro-City Masterplan, case studies in Saudi Arabia”, at the Manipal International Symposium on Design, held recently in Dubai.
With research interests in sustainable and affordable housing, Mr. Donner has focused his latest study on how traditional and modern techniques can be combined to develop a new architectural philosophy.
The paper examines three case-studies in Saudi Arabia – a ‘breathing’ house, designed for a typical middle-low income Saudi family; a luxury ‘qanat’ villa, constructed for a private client; and a low-rise, high density settlement, designed to be a self-sufficient ‘micro-city’.
Mr. Donner explained, “A building is considered sustainable according to how well it integrates with the natural elements of the surrounding landscape and with the habits of its residents. The breathing house, for example, promotes natural ventilation, for both energy conservation and the wellbeing of its inhabitants.”
The study looked closely at how ancient architectural techniques, such as the wind tower and the qanat structure – an old oriental subterranean canalization system for the supply of water – can be integrated into modern architecture to promote sustainability.
Mr. Donner continued, “The three examples of design in the arid Middle-Eastern climate demonstrate how natural resources like wind and water, often hard to find and preserve, can be used carefully and in an alternative, optimized way.”
Mr. Donner was among a program of Architecture professionals and academics who presented at the two-day symposium, which looked to the future of the industry, addressing themes such as socially responsible design and technological milestones.
Considering the future of architecture in desert communities, Mr. Donner concluded, “Architects must take inspiration from local culture and building traditions, linking and balancing ancient Islamic architecture to modern technologies and techniques, in the growth and conscious development of new buildings and settlements.”
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