Climate Responsive Design is a web forum through which climate responsive design experts can share their knowledge with the community about the climate responsive designs.
Although countries in East Africa seem to have a perfect climate, people are not fully benefiting or making efficient use of their potential. They suffer from insufficient daylight or overheating and live on sites that are not coherently organized nor efficiently utilized. Energy is wasted. Trees are considered an abundant energy provider, especially for cooking purposes or for burning bricks.
The forum on ‘Raising Awareness for Climate Responsive Design in East Africa’ took place in Kampala (Uganda) on 27th and 28th February 2019. It was organized by Enabel, The Belgian development agency, and the Construction Management Unit of the Ministry of Education and Sports. Enabel (until 2018 called ‘BTC’ or Belgian Technical Cooperation) has been active in Uganda since 2005 mainly in the Education and Healthcare sectors.
The group of organizers and speakers at the Forum decided to sustain momentum and set up a platform that would bring together a community of professionals from private and public sectors, to work towards a higher positive impact on our environment and communities.
The document is the first step in this process. The topics of the Forum cover both hard and soft issues that contribute to improving people’s living conditions and environment. They include participation, using local and durable materials, passive ventilation and natural daylighting, sustainable landscapes, and water and waste management.
Architects and engineers must learn to identify the constraints and opportunities of each project site and help local communities to develop their full potential. We hope this document will achieve the critical mass necessary to instigate lasting behavioral change in the way we are living in our environment.
Jan Van Lint
Online Courses
The courses seek to highlight the universal principles of climate-responsive design arising from experiences in sub-Saharan Africa. The courses introduce participants to critical thinking skills in climate responsive design and emphasize diligent and rigorous approaches to environmental design. The courses will seek to offer research, learning, and education for those interested in acquiring the skills related to the environmental and sustainable design of our built environments. The target audience is students and built environment professionals.
