Buildings prepared for a climate that has already changed

Climate change is already a fact, and buildings designed today will have to cope with more severe conditions throughout their lifespan: longer heat waves, more intense torrential rain episodes and longer periods of drought. To project thinking only of the current climate is to project for a scenario that no longer exists.

Adaptation is worked on at different scales. In the building, with more thermal inertia, sun protection, effective ventilation and good water management. In the environment, with nature-based solutions, such as green areas that capture water and reduce heat, surfaces that limit the heat island effect or spaces capable of absorbing floods, which improve outdoor conditions and, in turn, reduce the energy demand of buildings.

The message for the sector is that decarbonisation and adaptation do not compete for the same budget: they are complementary. A well-insulated, efficient building surrounded by a renaturalised environment emits less and, at the same time, is more resilient to climate crises. Integrating both objectives from the project is what defines a building that is truly ready for the future.