Cities are the first line of defence in humanity’s battle against deadly heat, reports Bloomberg as it looks at how changes some of the world’s hottest cities are making to protect their people from extreme temperatures.
image for illustration: Seville Tourism Bureau, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bloomberg writes:
The streets of Seville in southern Spain were so hot that July afternoon that it felt almost impossible to walk outdoors. As temperatures approached 42C (108F), people scrambled to find shelter in air-conditioned homes, offices and public buildings. Yet, less than two miles from the city center, a cool breeze blew under a giant white roof.
The structure is a part of CartujaQanat, an architectural experiment in cooling solutions that doesn’t rely on burning more planet-warming fossil fuels. The site… includes two auditoriums, green spaces, a promenade and a shaded area with benches. But its star performer remains hidden — the qanat, a network of underground pipes and tubes inspired by Persian-era canals….
For background see cartujaqanat.com
