Hot housing - low tech

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This work explores climate-friendly design in hot arid zones, emphasizing architectural, ecological, economic, and social aspects. Triggered by concerns over inadequate nighttime cooling in homes, the investigation focuses on residential buildings in regions like Cairo, where current construction practices ignore climatic realities. As fossil fuel energy becomes costlier, threshold countries will face significant challenges, compounded by air pollution and climate change. The discussion centers on how these issues impact architecture, particularly in hot-arid areas, while considering economic and social factors through various building techniques. Emphasizing "low-tech and low-cost" solutions, the text examines energy consumption, energy-saving strategies, and the use of natural elements like sun and wind for heating and cooling. Future building designs are proposed, highlighting the interplay of architectural form, light, and space. Ecological concerns, such as water supply and green areas, are also addressed, calling for a new design approach. Prototypes for innovative individual buildings are presented, based on research from Stuttgart University and the German University in Cairo, merging traditional Arab architectural qualities—like cross ventilation and sun protection—with modern design principles. Finally, the work discusses settlement and mobility issues in relation to climate within urban design, complemented by stude