As countries from China to Spain break heat records, some architects have been looking to cooling systems used centuries ago for inspiration. In Iran’s historic city of Yazd, decorative wind-catching towers, sometimes paired with cooling pools, have been able to provide emissions-free heat relief for many private and public buildings. As The World’s Durrie Bouscaren reports, while a lot of these towers are now defunct, architects have been studying them as a model for new, climate-friendly air conditioning.
The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?