Inside The Mud-Walled High-Rise That Cools Itself
Inside The Mud-Walled High-Rise That Cools Itself Living Paradigms is a series about what we can learn from the customs and cultural practices of others when it comes to solving problems. It is sponsored by Wonderstruck. It was a hot, sticky September afternoon in New Delhi, the kind of heat that clings to your skin. After navigating congested traffic and rough roads, we reached the city of Faridabad, 60 kilometers from the capital. There, Soumya Jain greeted us in her newly renovated home, a three-bedroom apartment in a high-rise tower block. Her home might look ordinary from the outside, but it is quietly extraordinary inside thanks to its walls, which are coated with mud plaster instead of cement — an ancient technique reimagined for modern living to keep spaces naturally cool without air-conditioning. Stepping inside, the change was instant. The heavy afternoon heat seemed to dissipate as cooler, lighter air enveloped us. In the living room, mud-plastered walls gave off a faint, eart…
