Submitted by M.L. R. Grove on Mon, 13/04/2026 - 12:36
The Department of Architecture is delighted to congratulate Saitabau Kumary, a third-year PhD student, on winning the prestigious Heat Adaptive Architecture Design Competition, organised by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre in partnership with the IFRC and the Global Disaster Preparedness Centre.
Saitabau is a doctoral researcher in the Sustainable Design Group at the University of Cambridge, led by Professor Ronita Bardhan, who also served as his supervisor and co-participant in the project.
His PhD research examines how the homogenisation of urban forms, often described as the “McDonaldisation” of cities, is intensifying thermal inequities, particularly for vulnerable communities in the Global South. His award-winning proposal focuses on heat-resilient schools, advancing design strategies that respond to rising temperatures while prioritising equity and lived experience.
This recognition highlights the growing importance of design-led, climate-responsive solutions in addressing extreme heat risks in rapidly urbanising contexts.
Further details can be accessed here: