Heatwaves force construction rethink

Three heatwaves in a matter of weeks are pushing architecture schools to rethink how they train the next generation.

At Fribourg's HEIA-FR, students now learn to size windows correctly, orient buildings for shade, and design cross-ventilation from the start. 

Caroline Karmann, associate professor in building physics, says the profession must relearn techniques earlier generations knew but recent design forgot. 

Students are also experimenting with older methods such as raw-earth construction, which offers natural thermal mass. 

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