With my deep concern about climate change and a substantial gap in (digital) architectural archive on this vital problem, this SAHARA Highlight on climate responsive architecture has been prepared by me (selection of the topic, all visual materials, research on selected architectural buildings, their texts). The text has some edits by Jacqueline Spafford.
“The rising dangers of climate crisis is a clear fact, and
it is imperative for all of us to take action to mitigate the greenhouse
effect. In particular, carbon produced by buildings during their construction
and operations for heating, cooling, and lighting have a strong impact on the
climate, and this critical situation requires collaborative and immediate
action. Diverse research, teaching and learning communities in architecture,
and relevant design-centered disciplines demand responsive digital image archives
at the intersection of architecture, the built environment and climate
adaptability much more than in the past. Considering our unprecedented
struggles with ever-increasing carbon emissions, this month’s SAHARA highlights
include several structures designed and built as a response to their (regional)
climatic conditions from diverse geographies and time periods.”
Photo: KIZIS Studio, Chios Mastic Museum, Pyrgi, Chios, Aegean Islands, Greece, 2016.
Orientated with a slight inclination towards the South, the architectural design of this museum's two parallel building blocks highlights the use of laminated timber for the roof structure and columns. As opposed to carbon intensive building materials, the preference of laminated timber can be considered as a part of climate action strategy to decrease CO2 emissions from the building sector and global warming.
Photograph by Basak Kalfa, 2016.
Please visit for more: SAHARA Highlights: Climate-Responsive Architecture, Spafford, J., Keefer, J. (co-editors), Ekincioglu, M. (associate editor), 2024, SAHARA, a digital image archive developed by the Society of Architectural Historians in collaboration with JSTOR/ITHAKA, September 16, https://www.sah.org/about-sah/news/news-detail/2024/09/16/sahara-highlights-climate-responsive-architecture, last accessed on September 21st, 2024.
* For the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH): "Founded at Harvard University in 1940, the Society of Architectural Historians is a nonprofit membership organization that serves an international network of institutions and individuals who, by profession or interest, focus on the history of the built environment and its role in shaping contemporary life."; https://www.sah.org/about-sah, last accessed on 7.22.2024.
* For SAHARA; https://www.sah.org/publications/sahara, last accessed on 7.22.2024.