Tradition at the Heart of Contemporary Responses

Decarbonization

4 min

21/05/2026

Traditional materials and vernacular know-how (rooted in local practices) now play a strategic role in deliberations on building resilience and comfort. Designed using local resources and shaped by centuries of adaptation to climate conditions, these solutions can be combined with contemporary methods.

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MUD BRICK / ADOBE

Mud is one of the oldest building materials in the world. When molded and dried in the sun, it becomes adobe, which has been used for centuries in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia for its thermal and acoustic insulation properties.

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In Taray (Peru), the Quincho Bernarda Community Center is dedicated to gatherings and group activities. Built in exposed adobe, it shows how this traditional material can be used today to create contemporary spaces that are suited to the climate and culture of the Andes.

GREENED ROOFS

Long associated with vernacular architecture in northern Europe, greened roofs are now recognized as solutions for climate adaptation and comfort. By combining vegetation and substrate, they improve thermal comfort through shading, thermal inertia, and evapotranspiration, while helping to stabilize indoor temperatures and contributing to acoustic comfort. They are now deployed in cities such as Copenhagen, Berlin, Basel, Paris, and Vienna, as well as New York and Chicago. In India, pilot projects are emerging in Delhi and Bengaluru, supported by public initiatives and international climate financing.

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Opened in 2022, the Forest Campus in Warsaw (Poland) continues to make its mark as an esthetic and technical success story, particularly with its roof garden. ©Saint-Gobain Glass

BAMBOO

Both lightweight and exceptionally strong, bamboo is a bio-sourced material that is increasingly sought after in construction. Its rapid growth and high capacity for renewal give it a low carbon footprint, while its fibrous structure contributes to the natural regulation of indoor temperature and humidity. Initially adapted to hot and humid climates, bamboo solutions are now being explored in a variety of contexts, from Europe to South Asia.

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The Lam Son Multipurpose Community Center (Vietnam) was designed by architect Hoàng Thúc Hào, a leading figure in sustainable architecture in Asia and winner of the 2025 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture^TM. With a bamboo and concrete frame, this building showcases the structural strength of bamboo. ©1+1>2 Architects

MASHRABIYA SCREENS

An iconic feature of Middle Eastern architecture, the mashrabiya is an openwork screen that provides shade, natural ventilation, and visual privacy. By filtering light and limiting direct exposure to the sun, it contributes to the passive thermal comfort of the building while promoting air circulation. Historically used in Egypt, India, and the Arabian Peninsula, it is often combined with other vernacular climate control systems, such as the windcatcher (malqaf), to cool indoor spaces without the use of air conditioning. Today, there are numerous contemporary reinterpretations of the mashrabiya.

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