The Expandables – Climate-responsive Architecture For Children

The Expandables is a climate-responsive architectural proposal that rethinks how childcare spaces can function in extreme environmental conditions. Designed for an arid climate with high humidity, the project challenges the conventional model of sealed, air-conditioned buildings by proposing a flexible system of expandable spaces that respond dynamically to airflow, temperature, and seasonal comfort levels.

Shortlisted in Form Follows Climate 2020, the project explores how architecture itself can become an environmental moderator—shifting between closed, semi-open, and open configurations to create comfortable, healthy spaces for children without excessive reliance on mechanical cooling.

The project is designed by Alireza Bagheri, Homa Gks, and Shadi Farrokhbalaghi.

Central courtyard designed as a shaded, naturally ventilated play space that connects indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Aerial view highlighting the expandable building clusters organized around shared courtyards and airflow corridors.

Understanding the Climate: Arid Heat with High Humidity

The chosen site experiences high temperatures, low annual rainfall, and elevated humidity levels due to its proximity to a large body of water. While classified as arid, the evaporation from seawater increases air moisture, making thermal comfort harder to achieve than in typical dry desert climates.

Climatic analysis reveals:

Extremely high summer temperatures
Prolonged periods of heat stress
Limited precipitation insufficient for evaporative cooling
High humidity that reduces the effectiveness of natural perspiration

These conditions demand architectural solutions that prioritize shade, ventilation, airflow management, and adaptability, rather than static enclosure.

Wind Behavior and Site Responsiveness

One of the key drivers of the design is prevailing north winds combined with sea breezes. Due to pressure differences between land and water, cooler air flows from the sea toward the site, particularly from the northern edge.

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations demonstrate how these winds move through the urban fabric and across the site. The building massing is strategically organized to:

Capture incoming breezes
Channel airflow through courtyards and internal corridors
Avoid wind blockage by dense volumes
Distribute ventilation evenly across indoor and outdoor zones

This wind-responsive planning ensures that airflow reaches even the deeper parts of the building, enhancing thermal comfort naturally.

Concept: Expandable Architecture for Children

At the heart of the project is the idea of expandable space. Instead of treating indoor and outdoor areas as separate zones, The Expandables merges them into a continuous spatial system.

When climatic conditions are favorable:

Interior spaces open toward courtyards and terraces
Classrooms expand into shaded outdoor play areas
Airflow moves freely across multiple zones

When conditions are harsh:

Panels close to protect against heat, dust, or humidity
Indoor environments remain functional and secure
Mechanical cooling is minimized but supported when necessary

This adaptability allows the architecture to change its form in response to environmental parameters, making it both resilient and efficient.

Night-time visualization showing the continuity of open circulation and passive cooling through the central spine.

Interior childcare space demonstrating flexible enclosure, filtered daylight, and cross-ventilation for thermal comfort.

Zoning Strategy: Age-Specific Comfort

The project carefully organizes spaces based on age groups and airflow priority:

Infants (0–2 years): Located in zones with the highest air filtration and lowest exposure to dust and pollution
Toddlers (2–3 years): Semi-open environments with controlled airflow
Children (3–7 years): Spaces with the greatest exposure to natural ventilation and outdoor integration

Supporting functions such as kitchens, offices, and service areas are positioned to buffer sensitive zones from heat and noise.

Vertical circulation—including stairs and elevators—is distributed evenly to ensure accessibility and safety for children of all ages.

Adaptive Panel System

A defining feature of the project is its multi-stage panel system, which enables spatial transformation:

Stage 1: Panels closed for mechanical cooling during extreme conditions
Stage 2: Panels act as filters, blocking dust and pollutants while allowing airflow
Stage 3: Panels slide or fold to merge indoor and outdoor spaces
Stage 4: Panels fully open, maximizing ventilation and spatial expansion

As panels open, airflow increases and interior spaces become porous, allowing wind to penetrate deeper into the building mass.