03Research · Najd Climate Lab
We measure the old houses before we draw new ones.
The lab is four people, a van of sensors and a lot of patience. We go back to traditional buildings, measure what they do, and turn what we learn into rules the studio can draw with.
01Studies
Five questions, two answered.
- The Najd courtyard, hour by hourAir and surface temperatures in a measured courtyard house through an August week.2023–2024Published
- The mashrabiya, sized by the hourHow deep a lattice must be to stop the sun at the hour that matters, and still keep the view.2024–2025Published
- Earth walls through a summerHeat crossing rammed-earth samples of four thicknesses, logged every ten minutes.2025–In progress
- Shade in the sikkaHours of shade in old lanes compared with modern streets of the same direction.2025–In progress
- Cooling by night airOpening houses to the night and closing them at dawn: what the rooms remember.2026–Planned
02Method
Four instruments, one notebook.
We publish our methods with our results, including what went wrong. A measurement is only useful if someone else could repeat it.
- T/RHAir temperature and humidity, logged every ten minutes
- IRSurface temperature of walls, floors and screens
- m/sAir speed in courtyards, lanes and doorways
- luxDaylight at the desk, the floor and the far wall
03Writing
- 2025“A lattice for every hour”, studio paper
- 2024“The Najd courtyard index”, research note
- 2023“The hours of shade”, essay
Study 01
The Najd courtyard