Architecture experts look into new plans for long-lasting housing in Arizona

Architecture experts say Arizona housing needs to be designed for Phoenix’s future as extreme heat continues to shape life in the hottest major city in the U.S.

Architects need to think beyond how buildings perform under historical climate conditions and start considering what will be required of them in a hotter, more extreme future.

Mike Davis, Founder of DAVIS®, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss whether the buildings we design today could truly be prepared for the climate changes ahead.

Davis said the main goal of the research and of continuing to improve housing is safety.

“We design things for 120-plus degrees today,” he said. “So there’s a little safety factor in that today; those are continuing.”

Davis said architects in Arizona must always take the climate into account when designing buildings, both interior and exterior.

Davis said, “The best design ways to do that, we call it passive design; in other words, shading windows, creating overhangs, landscaping and so forth. Obviously, in this climate, shade is good almost all the time.”

Davis said Phoenix is growing and he’s proud of all the work that has gone into the architecture of the city to continue to make it a great city.

“I’m proud of it. Most of it. It’s evolving. It’s becoming more of a place than a recreational destination or a golf vacation. I think we’re getting better,” Davis said.

However, he said there are ways to continue building and improving the city for the very hot climate of Arizona. He said he is working on new infrastructure around downtown Phoenix that provides more shade in the city.