In the coastal city of Tadjourah in Djibouti, where extreme heat and dry desert conditions dominate much of the year, architects designed a children’s village that functions without conventional air conditioning. The project, known as the SOS Children’s Village 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 across North Africa and the Middle East. Narrow shaded streets, wind-catching towers, reflective surfaces, vegetation and carefully planned airflow work together to keep the settlement naturally cooler. The result is a rare modern project where the architecture itself acts as the climate-control system.
How this children’s village stays cool in extreme heat
The SOS Children’s Village is located in Tadjourah, a port city in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa. The region experiences extremely high temperatures, strong sunlight and low rainfall for much of the year, making cooling one of the country’s biggest architectural challenges.Rather than importing Western-style climate systems designed for temperate environments, the architects studied how traditional settlements in hot desert regions survived for centuries before modern air conditioning existed. This became the foundation of the project’s design philosophy.Completed in 2014, the village was developed for SOS Children’s Villages International, an organisation that provides housing and support for vulnerable children and families.Urko Sanchez Architects described the project as “a medina for children.” The design draws heavily from historic medinas across North Africa and parts of the Middle East, where dense urban layouts naturally reduce heat exposure.Traditional medinas are built around narrow alleyways and closely packed structures that shade one another throughout the day. Instead of exposing buildings directly to sunlight, the layout creates cooler pedestrian corridors where airflow 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 encourage social interaction while also improving air circulation between buildings.The result is an environment where shade and ventilation are integrated directly into the layout rather than added later through mechanical systems.
How the village cools itself naturally
One of the project’s most important features is its passive cooling system. Passive cooling refers to architectural methods that reduce heat without relying heavily on electricity or mechanical refrigeration.The village uses wind-catching towers that rise above roof level and direct moving air downward into living spaces. Similar structures have existed for centuries in traditional Persian and Middle Eastern architecture.The orientation of streets and openings was also carefully planned to accelerate airflow through the settlement. As wind moves through narrow passages, its speed increases, improving ventilation and helping remove trapped heat.Many openings throughout the buildings use mashrabiya-style screening systems instead of sealed glass windows. These patterned screens allow air to pass freely while blocking direct sunlight and reducing heat gain.The buildings are finished in pale earthen tones that reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. In extremely hot climates, darker surfaces trap heat and continue radiating it long after sunset, while reflective finishes help keep temperatures lower.
Why there is very little dependence on modern air conditioning
Unlike many modern buildings in hot climates, the village was not designed around heavy mechanical cooling infrastructure. The architects intentionally avoided energy-intensive climate systems wherever possible.The project instead relies on thermal mass, shade, airflow and reflective materials to maintain more stable indoor temperatures. Thick walls made from precast cement blocks and reinforced concrete absorb heat slowly during the day and release it gradually at night.This approach reduces sudden indoor temperature spikes and allows many areas of the village to remain considerably cooler than the outside environment without constant artificial cooling. It also lowers long-term operational costs, which is especially important in regions where electricity infrastructure can be limited or expensive.
The role of vegetation and microclimates
Although Djibouti is an arid country, vegetation still plays an important role in the project. Trees and planted areas were integrated throughout the settlement to gradually create shaded microclimates over time.As plants grow, they reduce surrounding temperatures through shade and evapotranspiration, the process by which moisture released from leaves cools the surrounding air. Even relatively small green spaces can noticeably improve thermal conditions in hot environments.The landscaping was also intended to create calmer communal spaces and strengthen the village’s social atmosphere.
Materials chosen for climate, not appearance
The materials used in the village were intentionally 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 mainly on reinforced concrete, precast cement blocks 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 across generations in hot regions.
A car-free environment designed around children
The village was designed as a pedestrian-first environment. Cars are largely excluded from the internal layout, allowing children to move safely through interconnected alleys and shared courtyards.The narrow streets function not only as cooling corridors but also as social spaces where children can play and interact. This creates a stronger sense of community compared with isolated layouts often found in modern housing developments.Architects say the spatial design was intended to balance safety, social interaction and climate responsiveness at the same time.In an era of rising electricity demand, climate change and urban overheating, projects like this are becoming increasingly relevant. Instead of treating architecture and climate control as separate systems, the village combines them into one integrated design.
