Traditional design meets climate consciousness

Desert wisdom returns to the UAE and Middle East as old ideas inspire edifices that are both modern and sustainable

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Architects in the UAE and the wider Middle East are looking backward to move forward in the race to reduce carbon footprints. Long before air conditioners cooled interiors and glass towers dotted the skyline, the region’s builders crafted homes and public spaces that responded intuitively to harsh climates.

Now, these time-tested architectural traditions, wind towers, thick mud-brick walls, shaded courtyards are experiencing a renaissance, reinterpreted through the lens of 21st-century sustainability.

Across the Emirates, a new wave of design thinking is tapping into this desert wisdom to meet low-carbon goals while remaining rooted in local identity. Instead of relying solely on imported technologies or global templates, developers and architects are turning to regional heritage as a rich design resource that naturally enhances thermal comfort and reduces energy use.

Rediscovering the barjeel