Keep ground permeable where possible
Every square metre of unnecessary hard paving is rainfall lost to drainage in a city whose groundwater is already under pressure.
Resilience
Nature.
Green space, trees and permeable ground do practical work in a dry, dusty, warming city.
In short
What this means in practice.
In Kabul, planting is not decoration. Trees provide shade that reduces cooling demand, vegetation traps dust, and unsealed ground allows what rain there is to reach the water table instead of running into the street.
Shade that works
Trees positioned to shade west and south elevations and outdoor space reduce heat gain and make courtyards usable in summer.
Planting that can survive
Species chosen for local conditions and realistic irrigation, because planting that dies within two seasons was never a benefit.
Protect what is already there
Existing mature trees are worth designing around. They cannot be replaced within the lifetime of the people who will use the building.
Common questions
Questions we are actually asked.
Is planting worth it in a dry city?
Yes, if species are chosen for local conditions and realistic irrigation. Trees shading west and south elevations reduce cooling demand and make outdoor space usable in summer.
Why does permeable ground matter?
Every square metre of unnecessary hard paving is rainfall lost to drainage in a city whose groundwater is already declining.
Protect mature trees.
A tree already on site is worth more than several planted after completion.
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