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Daily Read: India

Kerala Home Stays Cool Without AC Using Clay Design

Elemental Architects created a 1.5‑acre family house outside Kannur that remains cool in Kerala’s heat without air conditioning. The design uses terracotta roofs, perforated clay walls, and high angled ceilings that direct warm air upward and out through specially positioned windows. Natural airflow is guided by jali lattices on the northern façade, creating a self‑pumping ventilation system that cools the interior. The building’s skeleton is built from locally sourced laterite stone, which has low thermal conductivity and can absorb moisture, helping to regulate humidity in the humid climate. The roof consists of two layers of clay tiles separated by a gap, reducing heat transfer from direct sunlight. After a 21‑day trial, the homeowners reported never needing to switch on an AC unit, noting that fans were sufficient and indoor temperatures remained comfortable. Elemental Architects has applied these principles to dozens of other projects, suggesting a potential shift toward sustainable, energy‑free cooling solutions in hot regions.

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The essential points

  1. 01Elemental Architects designed a 1.5‑acre Kerala home that stays cool without AC, using terracotta roofs and perforated clay walls.
  2. 02The house aligns north‑south, with jali lattices and high angled ceilings that channel rising warm air out through strategically placed windows.
  3. 03Local laterite stone forms the skeleton, offering low thermal transmission and moisture absorption, while double‑layer clay roof tiles create a thermal barrier.
  4. 04After a 21‑day test, the sisters reported never needing AC, citing comfortable indoor temperatures and effective natural ventilation.
The full brief

Elemental Architects created a 1. 5‑acre family house outside Kannur that remains cool in Kerala’s heat without air conditioning. The design uses terracotta roofs, perforated clay walls, and high angled ceilings that direct warm air upward and out through specially positioned windows.

Natural airflow is guided by jali lattices on the northern façade, creating a self‑pumping ventilation system that cools the interior. The building’s skeleton is built from locally sourced laterite stone, which has low thermal conductivity and can absorb moisture, helping to regulate humidity in the humid climate. The roof consists of two layers of clay tiles separated by a gap, reducing heat transfer from direct sunlight.

After a 21‑day trial, the homeowners reported never needing to switch on an AC unit, noting that fans were sufficient and indoor temperatures remained comfortable. Elemental Architects has applied these principles to dozens of other projects, suggesting a potential shift toward sustainable, energy‑free cooling solutions in hot regions.