In Djibouti’s coastal city of Tadjoura, where there is extreme heat and dry desert conditions for most of the year, architects have designed a children’s village that operates without traditional air conditioning. The project, known as SOS Children’s Villages Tadjourah, was created by Urko Sanchez Architects for SOS Children’s Villages International. Instead of relying on glass towers, sealed interiors, and energy-intensive cooling systems, the architects turned to centuries-old climate-responsive design principles used in North Africa and the Middle East. Narrow shady streets, wind-capturing towers, reflective surfaces, vegetation and carefully planned airflow work together to keep the settlement naturally cool. The result is a rare modern project where the architecture itself functions as a climate-control system.

How this children’s village remains cool even in the scorching heat

SOS Children’s Villages is located in Tadjoura, a port city in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. The region experiences extremely high temperatures, intense sunlight and low rainfall for most of the year, making cooling one of the country’s greatest architectural challenges.Rather than importing Western-style climate systems designed for temperate environments, architects studied how traditional settlements in hot desert areas survived for centuries before modern air conditioning existed. This became the basis of the project’s design philosophy.Completed in 2014, the village was developed for SOS Children’s Villages International, an organization that provides housing and support to vulnerable children and families.Urco Sanchez Architects described the project as “a medina for children”. The design is largely inspired by the historic medinas of North Africa and parts of the Middle East, where dense urban layouts naturally reduce heat exposure.Traditional medinas are built around narrow streets and closely packed structures that shade each other throughout the day. Instead of exposing the buildings to direct sunlight, the layout creates cool pedestrian corridors where air flow is concentrated.The architects recreated this concept inside the village using a maze-like arrangement of pathways, courtyards and communal spaces. Small public squares were added throughout the complex to improve air circulation between buildings as well as encourage social interaction.The result is an environment where shade and ventilation are integrated directly into the layout rather than being added later through mechanical systems.

How the village cools itself naturally

One of the most important features of the project is its passive cooling system. Passive cooling refers to architectural methods that reduce heat without relying heavily on electrical or mechanical refrigeration.The village uses wind-catching towers that rise above roof level and direct the moving air into the living spaces below. Similar structures have existed for centuries in traditional Persian and Middle Eastern architecture.The orientation of roads and open spaces was also carefully planned to accelerate air flow through the settlement. As air passes through narrow passages, its speed increases, improving ventilation and helping to remove trapped heat.Mashrabiya-style screening systems are used instead of sealed glass windows in many open spaces in buildings. These patterned screens allow air to pass through freely while blocking direct sunlight and reducing heat gain.The buildings are designed in light earthy colors that reflect sunlight rather than absorb it. In extremely hot climates, dark surfaces trap heat and continue to radiate long after sunset, while reflective finishes help keep temperatures down.

Why is there so little reliance on modern air conditioning?

Unlike many modern buildings in hot climates, the village was not designed around heavy mechanical cooling infrastructure. Wherever possible, the architects deliberately avoided energy-intensive climate systems.Instead the project relies on thermal mass, shade, airflow and reflective materials to maintain a more stable indoor temperature. Thick walls made of precast cement blocks and reinforced concrete absorb heat slowly during the day and release it slowly at night.This approach minimizes sudden increases in temperature indoors and allows many areas of the village to remain significantly cooler than the outdoor environment without constant artificial cooling. It also reduces long-term operating costs, which is especially important in areas where electricity infrastructure may be limited or expensive.

Role of vegetation and microclimate

Although Djibouti is an arid country, vegetation plays an important role in the project. Over time trees and planted areas were gradually integrated throughout the settlement to create a shady microclimate.As plants grow, they lower the surrounding temperature through shade and evaporation, the process by which moisture released from leaves cools the surrounding air. Even relatively small green spaces can significantly improve thermal conditions in hot climates.The landscaping was also intended to create tranquil communal spaces and strengthen the social atmosphere of the village.

Materials selected based on climate, not appearance

The materials used in the village were deliberately simple and locally practical. The architects avoided imported glass-heavy architectural styles that often perform poorly in desert climates without massive energy consumption.Instead, the project relies primarily on reinforced concrete, precast cement block and textured plaster finishes. These materials were selected for durability, thermal performance, and ease of maintenance in extreme environmental conditions.The emphasis was not on futuristic aesthetics but on long-term climate adaptation using techniques already proven for generations in hot regions.

Car-free environment designed for kids

The village was designed as a pedestrian-first environment. Cars are largely excluded from the interior layout, allowing children to move safely through interconnected streets and shared courtyards.The narrow streets serve not only as cooling corridors but also as social spaces where children can play and interact. This creates a stronger sense of community than the isolated layouts often found in modern housing developments.The architects say the aim of the spatial design was to balance safety, social interaction and climate response at the same time.In an era of increasing electricity demand, climate change and urban extreme heat, such projects are becoming increasingly relevant. Rather than treating architecture and climate control as separate systems, the village combines them into an integrated design.