South Punjab losing breathing architecture

Concrete construction, vanishing greenery expose rural homes to heat The traditional homes of rural South Punjab, once designed to naturally withstand the region's punishing summers, are rapidly disappearing as concrete construction, shrinking plots and the loss of greenery transform village landscapes. For generations, rural houses across Multan, Vehari, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal were built around climate-responsive features such as high ceilings, open courtyards, shaded verandahs, ventilators and trees. These elements allowed hot air to escape, encouraged evening breezes and provided shade, helping families remain relatively comfortable without relying heavily on air conditioning. That architectural wisdom is now fading. Modern village houses are increasingly smaller, more enclosed and dominated by concrete. Courtyards are shrinking, verandahs are disappearing and trees are being cleared to make room for construction. The change has become particularly noticeable during the current spell of intense heat and humidity, with residents reporting that homes remain hot even after sunset. Older residents, including former councilor Abdul Kareem and Vehari resident Zafar Iqbal, said the contrast between present-day houses and those they grew up in was stark. They recalled how families once gathered in courtyards and verandahs in the evening, waiting for the heat stored in walls to subside. Many of those open spaces have now disappeared, leaving concrete structures that absorb heat during the day and continue radiating it well into the night. Local civil engineer Malik Zia Rauf said traditional architecture was closely adapted to local weather conditions. He said high ceilings and ventilators allowed hot air to rise and escape, while verandahs created a shaded buffer between outdoor heat and living spaces. "Verandahs added a shaded buffer between the outdoors and living spaces," he said, noting that families could use these areas for sitting during the day and even sleeping in hot nights. Courtyards, meanwhile, brought natural light and air into homes while providing open spaces for families. The disappearance of these features is also linked to population growth and the division of ancestral property among children. As plots become smaller, families increasingly use every available space for construction, leaving little room for courtyards, gardens or trees. Construction company owner Malik Muhammad Ramzan said changing preferences were another factor behind the transformation. Many families now preferred modern building styles, even though older houses were generally more open, airy and naturally lit, he said. The shift is not merely architectural but environmental. A house surrounded by trees and open spaces responds differently to extreme heat than one enclosed by concrete. Shaded verandahs, trees and ventilated rooms can reduce heat exposure, while sealed rooms with low ceilings can trap it. Rauf said the issue had become more important as climate change intensified extreme heat across South Punjab, one of Pakistan's hottest regions where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45 degrees Celsius. The loss of climate-responsive architecture, he said, was removing an important layer of natural protection for rural communities. A medical specialist, Dr Waqas Arqam, said the consequences could extend beyond discomfort. Homes that retain heat overnight give residents, particularly children and older people, less opportunity to recover from daytime heat stress. Poor ventilation can also increase indoor humidity and worsen conditions for people with respiratory or heart-related problems. For households that cannot afford air conditioning or frequently face power outages, home design can play an important role in determining how safely families cope with extreme summer temperatures. The loss of trees is adding to the problem. Trees that once surrounded village courtyards are increasingly disappearing as residential plots shrink and construction expands. Greenery is now more commonly associated with farmland than with homes. Laique Sheikhana, a resident of Nawabpur village who has maintained a garden around his house, said the difference was clear. His trees provide fruit and shade, he said, and homes surrounded by greenery do not experience the same intensity of heat as concrete-dominated houses. His experience reflects a wider transformation across rural South Punjab, where climate-adapted village landscapes are steadily giving way to concrete structures.