Climate change as challenges and prospects for architecture development

Abstract

While the causes of climate changes remain poorly understood, their nature is undeniable. The shift in climate zone boundaries is accompanied by a rapid increase in the number and scale of extreme weather events, temperature and humidity variations. For many regions of Eurasia, climatic changes are manifested in the onset of desert and semi-desert (arid) climate zones. Extreme weather phenomena have a particularly threatening impact on urban life. For a variety of reasons, the urban environment is less resilient to weather disasters. The ways of increasing the resilience of urban environment, which are offered by the architectural mainstream, look insufficiently effective. The article substantiates the concept of using traditional and vernacular architectural and construction technologies preserved in regions with arid climate (Middle East, North Africa). Examples of successful application of traditional methods of house-building in combination with elements of the latest technologies are given.

Keywords

• architecture
• construction
• urbanism
• climate change
• extreme weather phenomena
• traditions