Amidst the Heat and Breeze: A Documentation of Traditional Cooling Practices in Sudanese Houses
This illustrated booklet documents the enduring wisdom of traditional Sudanese homes and the indigenous, low-cost techniques communities have long used to stay cool during extreme heat. Developed as a collaborative effort between the Sudan Urban Development Think Tank (SUDTT), the Sudan Meteorological Authority (SMA), and Resurgence under the DARAJA project, the publication was created in commemoration of Heat Action Day 2026 (June 2), with this year’s focus on indoor heat. Its title bridges Al-Hajeer (the intense, scorching midday heat) and Al-Haboob (the cool seasonal breeze), capturing the journey from blistering heat to a cool, sustainable respite.
Rather than treating these practices as relics of the past, the booklet presents them as living solutions still actively used by Sudanese families today. It is woven from the shared memories, lived experiences, and firsthand testimonies of community members who understand what it means to seek shade in the heat of the afternoon, with their voices featured throughout in both Arabic and English.
The resource profiles a range of traditional cooling methods and tools, including passive building techniques (mud-brick walls, palm-frond roofing, and high-level ventilation openings), the shaded Al-Rakoba structure, the porous clay Zeer water pot, the woven Al-Angaraib bed, the dampened Toub Al-Hazzaz garment, the Al-Mashlaeeb food-preservation tool, and the handheld Al-Habbaba fan. Many of these rely on evaporative cooling and locally available natural materials, offering sustainable, electricity-free approaches to heat adaptation.
By capturing this glimpse of Sudanese local heritage, the booklet aims to raise awareness of heat risks while honoring the comforting, sustainable innovations that continue to keep homes a sanctuary of coolness and connection across generations. It offers valuable inspiration for practitioners, researchers, and communities exploring locally rooted, nature-based solutions to rising temperatures and indoor heat.