Insights

Fully glazed buildings have become increasingly common across African cities, often associated with modernity, luxury, “nice views”, and contemporary architecture. But when design ideas are copied across climates without considering local conditions, they can create unintended consequences.

In this article, Francis Fotsing explores the performance implications of excessive glazing in warm African climates, looking at solar heat gain, thermal comfort, cooling demand, construction and operational costs, and embodied carbon. Rather than arguing against glass, he makes the case for using the right amount of glass, in the right place, with the right shading and performance - and ultimately applying Habindi’s principle of sufficiency before efficiency.

Building projects in many parts of Africa treat MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Public Health/Plumbing) design as something that happens after the architecture is complete. This misconception often leads to poor coordination, higher operating costs, safety risks, and uncomfortable spaces.

In this article, Francis Fotsing talks about why MEP design should be integrated from the very beginning of the design process, how it influences every aspect of a building's performance, and why investing in MEP engineering delivers better buildings that are safe, efficient, resilient, and built to last.

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