Homes with large, south-facing windows take advantage of winter sunlight, which naturally warms interiors throughout the day. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
by Umar Manzoor Shah (Srinagar, India)
Inter Press Service
SRINAGAR, India, Jan 20 (IPS) – India’s average temperature has risen by 0.7°C since 1901, bringing more frequent and intense heat waves, variable rainfall patterns, and a marked decrease in the frequency of hurricanes since the 1950s.
With projections suggesting a 2°C increase in global temperature, India faces a significant risk of instability in summer rainfall patterns. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes have become more frequent, ranking the country as the seventh most affected globally by climate change-related weather events in 2019.
In Kashmir, the implications are clear; the average temperature in Srinagar increased by 1.05°C between 1980–1999 and 2000–2019, and the winter of 2023–2024 was the driest on record, marking the hottest winter in 18 years.
With climate change reshaping the region, the importance of climate-resilient buildings has become essential.
In this photo essay, IPS examines the clever climate-responsive architecture of Kashmir, built between the 19th and early 20th centuries, showing how traditional techniques create structures that can withstand the region’s extreme weather conditions.
Deodar wood, which is locally sourced and resistant to cold and moisture, is the backbone of Kashmir’s weather-resistant buildings. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS Double-glazed windows trap warmth in the house while letting in sunlight, making it a modern staple in Kashmir’s progressive architecture. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS The old homes in Srinagar city show the success of traditional design, they stay warm and cozy even in the middle of winter. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS Thick layers of mud cover many homes, sealing the warmth inside and keeping out the winter cold. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS Using stone or concrete, modern designs capture the heat during the day and release it gradually at night, improving comfort. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS Porches and verandas, or Deodis, act as barriers to the cold, helping to keep the warmth inside. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS Hakim Sameer Hamdani, senior architect and project coordinator for the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Hamdani is the author of Syncretic Traditions of Islamic Religious Architecture of Kashmir. Credit: Umar Manzoor Shah/IPS
