Do you want to have a cooler house in summer without having to use the air conditioning?
Well, it’s possible…
In short, it is about seeing how architecture can help to generate this comfort without having to rely on machines: «This is the key to environmental or passive architecture, which is a more sustainable architecture because not relying on machines is the most efficient.
For example, one of these passive strategies that is valid for any location on the peninsula is cross ventilation: «I would not recommend anyone to buy a house without cross ventilation. I would not recommend anyone to buy a house without cross ventilation: «I would not recommend anyone to buy a house without cross ventilation, either on two different facades, or facing each other, or with corner facades, or with an exterior facade and an interior courtyard, or even a house between interior courtyards. This strategy of cross ventilation, especially with climate change, which is becoming hotter and hotter, the summer periods last longer and are hotter, is crucial throughout the peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
«The second relevant aspect would be to have a level of solar protection for the openings and the glass panes, so that they are not exposed especially in the summer periods when it is hotter directly, especially to the south and west. So sun protection and cross ventilation seem to me to be two crucial aspects that are even more important than insulation.
So doesn’t insulation make sense? Yes, «It makes a lot of sense in a very cold climate, in northern European climates that turn houses almost into refrigerators».
And in other latitudes? «If we think of Mediterranean climates or even in the centre of the peninsula, we are back to talking about solar protection. We could talk about blinds with slats, for example, those Venetian blinds with horizontal slats that are very useful in south, east and west orientations. Instead of horizontal slats, vertical slats work much better. In any case, these solar protection elements should have a certain degree of mobility so that they can be put up or taken down at different times of the year.
It is also very useful to work with certain porches, those shady places that are very comfortable spaces before entering the houses.
Another very relevant issue, especially in these Mediterranean climates, is the façades. «Having heavy façades, with a very large volume and massiveness. Let’s think about the house in the village that is very cool in summer and more or less warm in winter because it has very thick walls».