We often focus on modern technologies and cutting-edge design when considering sustainable buildings.
However, the ancient world is full of remarkable engineering feats designed to stand the test of time.
Think for a moment of the towering pyramids of Egypt and the intricate aqueducts of Rome. These are some examples of ancient engineers who used innovative techniques to build structures.
But what can you learn from these ancient engineering marvels?
Ancient engineers understood how to create functional, beautiful structures that could last for centuries.
In this article, we will explore how ancient engineering can provide valuable lessons and inspiration for creating sustainable buildings that are resilient and efficient in the modern world.
Inspiring ancient techniques for creating sustainable buildings
Some of the world's most famous buildings have stood the test of time, such as the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome and Machu Picchu in Peru.
Drawing on lessons from the past, we can create buildings that are not only sustainable, but also culturally rich, technologically advanced and aesthetically appealing.
So, let's take a journey through ancient engineering and discover how to use this knowledge to build a more sustainable future.
1. Passive cooling and heating systems
In ancient times, people did not have access to modern HVAC systems to heat and cool their homes and buildings. Even so, their natural cooling system was impeccable.
Passive cooling systems use natural ventilation, shade, and thermal mass to cool a building. Passive heating systems use insulation, orientation, and thermal mass to heat them.
In ancient times, they used a “windcatchers” technique to cool their buildings. Windcatchers were essentially large towers that captured the breeze and directed it into the building.
They designed their buildings with large windows and used materials like stone and concrete to absorb heat during the day. Then, at night, the stored heat would radiate back into the building, keeping it warm.
You can apply these ancient techniques when designing buildings with large windows to let in natural light and heat. On the other hand, you can install shading devices such as awnings and blinds to block direct sunlight during hotter days.
Buildings can also be designed with thermal mass materials like stone, brick or concrete to store heat during the day and release it at night.
2. Use natural ventilation
In the past, people relied on natural airflow to cool and ventilate their buildings, unlike modern air conditioning systems.
The ancient Egyptians, for example, built houses with high ceilings and narrow windows to create a “chimney effect” that drew hot air up and out of the building, while cold air entered through openings on the lower levels.
Likewise, the ancient Greeks and Romans used open-air courtyards, atriums, and corridors to promote natural ventilation. By positioning buildings around a central courtyard or atrium, they could create natural airflow through the building.
In the modern era, we can benefit from these ancient techniques by using natural ventilation to cool and ventilate our buildings.
By incorporating features like large windows, skylights, and roof vents, we can encourage natural airflow that helps regulate temperature and air quality.
We can also use the cross ventilation process. It involves positioning windows and doors on opposite sides of the building to create a natural flow of air from one end to the other.
3. Use of prefabricated materials in controlled environments
Early engineers could reduce waste, increase productivity, and provide more accurate, streamlined construction. They achieved this by manufacturing building components or modules off-site in a controlled environment.
The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians used mud bricks in their architecture. They could create bricks that could be shaped and dried in the sun outside by mixing mud and straw. This technique allowed the manufacture of large quantities of bricks before construction.
Likewise, by using materials that are abundant in the area, we can reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions associated with transporting materials over long distances.
Additionally, using natural materials such as clay bricks or locally sourced wood can help reduce the building's carbon footprint.
4. Use of natural light
Old buildings often featured large windows and skylights to maximize natural light. This created a more pleasant indoor environment and reduced the need for artificial lighting.
They also used light wells, essentially open-air patios, to illuminate interior spaces further away from exterior walls.
In the modern era, we can still benefit from these ancient techniques, using natural light to illuminate our buildings.
By incorporating features like large windows, skylights and light wells, we can reduce our dependence on artificial lighting and energy consumption.
Another technique that we can use to promote natural light is the use of light shelves. These are horizontal surfaces positioned above eye level to reflect light deeper into the building's interior spaces.
Lightweight shelves can be particularly effective in spaces with large windows, which can help distribute natural light more evenly throughout the room.
5. Collect rainwater
People were smart about harvesting and storing rainwater in ancient times. And it was a common practice for them. In addition, they use the stored water for irrigation, washing and other purposes.
An ancient rainwater harvesting system is called the qanat system, developed in Persia more than 2,500 years ago.
This system involved the excavation of underground tunnels that allowed water to flow from higher elevations to lower elevations, allowing it to be collected in wells and cisterns.
Today, we can still use these ancient techniques to create sustainable buildings that use rainwater. Furthermore, it will reduce our dependence on municipal water sources.
You can start by simply attaching a rain barrel to your gutter, or you can go all out and install an underground cistern system.
Another way to promote rainwater harvesting is to incorporate green roofs. A green roof is a rooftop garden planted with vegetation and designed to absorb rainwater.
Plants help filter water and release it slowly, reducing runoff and preventing water from overwhelming municipal stormwater systems.
6. Adaptive Reuse
We don't always have to start from scratch when creating sustainable buildings. One of the most sustainable construction approaches is the reuse of existing structures, a concept known as adaptive reuse.
This approach has been used for centuries and is equally relevant today. It involves various types of buildings, from industrial and commercial buildings to residences.
For example, an old warehouse can be converted into a modern loft, or an old school building can become a community center.
We can reduce waste, conserve resources and preserve historic and cultural landmarks by repurposing existing buildings. This is especially important considering that the construction industry is responsible for significant carbon emissions.
Adaptive reuse can also be a cost-effective way to create new buildings. As the structure already exists, much of the infrastructure is already in place. This can make it cheaper to retrofit an existing building than to build a new one from scratch.
7. Use Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design involves using the sun's energy to naturally heat and cool a building. Ancient builders did this by carefully orienting their buildings toward the sun and using materials that could maximize solar gain in winter and minimize it in summer.
Large, well-insulated south-facing windows are ideal for maximum solar gain. They also used shading devices such as eaves and pergolas to keep their buildings cool in the summer while still allowing the sun to provide natural light.
Fast forward to the modern era, and we can still rely on the sun's energy to provide heating and cooling. We can use high-performance windows and insulation to help regulate the temperature inside the building.
We can also incorporate a “solar chimney,” designed to pull hot air up and out of the building, creating a natural convection current that helps keep the building cool.
We can also incorporate a “solar chimney,” designed to pull hot air up and out of the building, creating a natural convection current that helps keep the building cool.
Old technology can teach us about sustainability in building design in countless ways.
By adopting these sustainable practices, we can reduce waste, minimize our carbon footprint and create healthy, beautiful and functional spaces for generations to come.
We can learn their techniques and incorporate them into our modern practices to create environmentally responsible buildings that respect our history and culture.
Common questions
1. What examples of old engineering projects can inspire sustainable building design?
Examples include the use of:
- Natural materials such as stone, wood and mud
- Passive cooling and heating techniques such as thick walls, courtyards and natural ventilation.
- Water management strategies such as cisterns, aqueducts and irrigation systems.
- Adaptive building systems such as movable partitions and modular construction.
2. How can the use of natural materials in legacy engineering projects inform sustainable building design?
Ancient engineers often used locally sourced materials such as stone, wood and mud. These are renewable and biodegradable, making them more sustainable than materials like concrete and steel.
In modern sustainable building design, engineers can use natural materials such as bamboo, adobe, and rammed earth to create low-impact buildings.
3. What is passive solar design and how to incorporate it into modern building design?
Passive solar design is an approach to building design that maximizes the use of natural sunlight and heat to heat and cool a building. You can achieve this:
- Orient the building to maximize/minimize solar gain in winter and summer
- using large, well-insulated south-facing windows
- incorporating materials with high thermal mass
- ensuring good insulation and promoting passive ventilation.
