Multan is one of the hottest cities in Pakistan, with long summers that regularly pass 45°C and dusty winds before the monsoon. A house here can either fight that climate or work with it. The difference is mostly decided on paper, in the first weeks of design, and it shows up every month in how comfortable the rooms feel and how high the electricity bill climbs.
1. Face the right way
The low morning and afternoon sun from the east and west is the hardest to shade, and the west side takes the worst of it in the hottest part of the day. Where the plot allows, place the long sides of the house to face north and south, keep large windows off the west wall, and put stores, stairs, bathrooms and the garage on the west, where they act as a buffer for the rooms you live in.
2. Shade the glass, not the room
Once sunlight passes through glass, its heat is already inside. Shading works best outside the window: deep overhangs and balconies on the south, vertical fins or jaali screens on the east and west, and recessed windows rather than windows set flush with the wall. Curtains help with glare, but they do little for heat.
3. Treat the roof as the biggest wall
On a single- or double-storey house, the roof receives more sun than any wall. An insulated roof with a light-coloured, reflective finish keeps the top floor noticeably cooler. Ask your architect which insulation and waterproofing layers are specified, and make sure they are not dropped later to save cost.
4. Let the house breathe
Courtyards and double-height spaces have been used in this region for centuries because they let hot air rise and escape. Openings on opposite sides of a room allow cross-ventilation on cooler evenings and in spring and autumn. Even a small internal courtyard or a stair well with high windows can pull air through the house.
5. Choose materials that slow the heat down
Thick masonry walls absorb heat during the day and release it slowly, which evens out the temperature inside. Cavity walls or insulated external walls on the sunniest sides add to that effect. For windows that cannot be shaded, double glazing reduces the heat that gets in and also keeps dust and noise out.
6. Plant for shade, and plan for dust
Trees on the west and south sides shade walls and windows, and planted ground stays cooler than paving. A lawn or planting close to the house reduces reflected heat and dust. Plan entrances so that dust has somewhere to stop, with a covered porch and a space to remove shoes, rather than opening straight into the main living room.
What to ask your architect
- Which rooms face west, and how are their windows shaded?
- What insulation and finish are specified for the roof?
- How does air move through the house on a mild evening with the air conditioning off?
- Where will trees and planting go, and when will they be planted?
Planning a house in Multan? Our Plan Your Home planner gives you a first idea of covered area and timeline for your plot, and an architect can walk you through orientation and shading on your actual site.
Planning a home of your own?
See an approximate covered area and timeline for your plot in a minute, then send it to an architect at Space Walk Design Studio.
