Canada Can Embrace Mediterranean Home Construction to Adapt to Climate Change
In the realm of architecture, climate plays a crucial role in shaping the design and construction of homes. A striking example of this can be seen in the significant differences between Canadian and Mediterranean home construction methods, reflecting the distinct climates of these regions. While Canada grapples with the challenges of adapting to climate change, there are valuable lessons to be learned from Mediterranean home construction that could offer innovative solutions.
People may not realise that adapting to climate change will likely require us to change the design of cities, neighbourhoods and homes. The "character" of our neighbourhoods will change because current city plans are suited to a different, more moderate climate and are ill-suited to extreme weather.
Current Canadian Home Construction: Embracing the Cold
Canadian home construction is heavily influenced by the country's relatively harsh winters. Insulation, energy-efficient windows, and sturdy heating systems are essential components to battle sub-zero temperatures. Homes are typically wood-frame with a concrete foundation, with well-insulated walls and roofs to keep heat in during the colder months. Brick is typically ornamental rather than structural. Additionally, techniques like raised foundations and insulated crawl spaces help protect homes from frost heaves and dampness.
Because heat has not been a concern, Canadian city planning requires plenty of space between homes and height restrictions to reduce the amount of shade homes cast on each other side-by-side. Also, car-oriented suburbs with two-lane streets, street parking and sidewalks create a great distance between homes divided by a street.
Finally, Canadians love to show off their gardens. Canadian houses are typically situated at the centre of a garden, with green space in front and behind the house.
Mediterranean Home Construction: Taming the Sun
Contrasted to the Canadian approach, Mediterranean home construction revolves around adapting to the region's scorching summers. Whitewashed walls, thick stone structures, and open courtyards form the cornerstone of this architectural style. Light colours reflect sunlight and prevent heat absorption, while thick walls with thermal mass absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. Courtyards and narrow streets encourage airflow, and shuttered windows and awnings provide shade and ventilation.
Traditional Mediterranean villages developed architectural and construction techniques over centuries to adapt to the hot and dry climate of the region. Here are key elements of Mediterranean village construction that help with adapting to summer heat:
White Walls: Buildings in Mediterranean villages often have whitewashed or light-coloured walls. Light colours reflect sunlight and heat, helping to keep interiors cooler by reducing the absorption of heat.
Thick Walls: Thick walls made from materials like stone or adobe can provide thermal mass, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it slowly at night when temperatures are cooler. This helps regulate indoor temperatures and reduces the need for artificial cooling.
Courtyards: Courtyards are a common feature in Mediterranean architecture. They provide shaded outdoor spaces that encourage natural ventilation and air circulation. The central courtyard design allows for better airflow and cooling breezes throughout the building. Mediterranean homes make the courtyard garden a social focal point of the household. They are also phenomenal for kids because they can play in the garden while still within the four walls of your house.
Narrow Streets and Alleyways: The layout of Mediterranean villages often include pedestrian-oriented narrow streets and alleyways that create shaded paths and reduce direct exposure to the sun. These features also help channel cool breezes through the village. Shaded streets with compact local convenience supermarkets, like Rabba’s Fine Foods from Toronto, allow people to pick up food on their walk home from work or pick up food on the fly rather than relying on large weekly car-dependent shopping trips.
Flat Roofs with Terraces: Flat roofs with terraces offer additional outdoor living spaces that can be used in the cooler evenings or early mornings. These areas often have plants, shading structures, and water features that contribute to cooling the surrounding air.
Shutters and Awnings: External shutters and awnings provide shade and protection from direct sunlight. They can be adjusted to control the amount of sunlight entering the building while allowing for ventilation. We predict blinds and shutters will be a common fixture for Canadian construction by 2030.
Ventilation Openings: Architectural features such as small windows near the top of walls (clerestory windows) or windcatchers (tower-like structures that catch and direct airflow) facilitate natural ventilation. Cross-ventilation helps create a breeze and allows hot air to escape.
Use of Natural Materials: Mediterranean villages often use locally sourced materials like stone and clay. These materials are well-suited to the climate and contribute to the thermal performance of the buildings.
Adequate Insulation: While not all traditional Mediterranean constructions include insulation, modern adaptations often incorporate insulation materials to prevent heat transfer through walls and roofs. In this respect, the Mediterranean is similar to Canada.
Water Features: Fountains, pools, and other water features can create a cooling effect through evaporative cooling. The presence of water can help lower ambient temperatures and create a more comfortable microclimate.
Planting Shade: Vegetation such as vines, pergolas, and trees can provide natural shade for buildings and outdoor areas, reducing the impact of direct sunlight.
Siq: a narrow channel cut between two vertical walls can channel cool air into a building or a shaded area, providing a natural form of air conditioning.
These elements collectively create a comfortable living environment in Mediterranean villages despite the intense summer heat. While modern construction methods might incorporate newer technologies, these traditional design principles continue to influence architecture in the region due to their effectiveness in adapting to the climate.
Transitioning for Climate Change Adaptation
As climate change intensifies, Canada faces more frequent and severe weather events, including heat waves. Embracing aspects of Mediterranean home construction could offer several benefits in adapting to this changing reality. One key advantage lies in the efficiency of Mediterranean design to combat rising temperatures. By incorporating features such as whitewashed exteriors, flat roofs with terraces, and passive cooling strategies, Canadian homes could reduce their dependence on energy-intensive cooling systems during hot summers.
Moreover, the adoption of Mediterranean construction methods could enhance the resiliency of Canadian homes against extreme weather events. Thick walls and efficient insulation, combined with natural ventilation techniques, can help mitigate the impacts of heat waves while providing a comfortable indoor environment. By embracing locally sourced materials and incorporating elements like water features for evaporative cooling, homes can adapt to the changing climate.
The potential benefits aren't limited to the residential sector alone. Public buildings, commercial structures, and urban planning could all draw inspiration from Mediterranean architectural practices, fostering sustainable communities that are better equipped to face the challenges of a warming world.
As Canada grapples with the realities of climate change, there's an opportunity to merge the best of both worlds—Canadian resilience and Mediterranean adaptation. By infusing the essence of Mediterranean home construction into Canadian architectural practices, a new fusion of tradition and innovation emerges that creates homes better equipped to withstand the challenges of a changing climate. As architects and builders look towards the future, these lessons can inspire a more sustainable and resilient built environment for all.
Adapting to climate change will require us to change the design of cities, neighbourhoods and homes. Yes, the "character" of our neighbourhoods will change, but this is an opportunity to harness creativity to develop new regionally-unique Canadian home designs that are better suited to our new and changing climate. The new character of our neighbourhoods could be better than the one we have inherited.
