Stone houses save Iraqis from heat in Akre

AKRE: As the sun beats down on Iraq, most people swelter in their concrete homes -- but not the inhabitants of one mountain town known for its ancient and cool stone houses.

Tracing its roots back 2,700 years, the picturesque Kurdish town of Akre says it is beter adapted to the modern-day perils of climate change than other parts of Iraq.

“Stone houses are far more resistant” to the rising temperatures and also preserve the town’s unique character, said Mayor Baland Reda Zubair.

“Cement radiates heat, raises temperatures and affects the environment,” said Zubair of the building material that is allowed only in outlying neighbourhoods.

Many of Akre’s narrow alleyways can only be navigated by donkeys and wind through a historic city centre bathed in the pale yellow and brown hues of the locally quarried stone.

While Iraqi authorities have done litle to address the challenges, Akre, a city of 100,000 residents about 500km north of Baghdad, believes sticking with the old ways will help it adapt.

An impressive building welcomes those entering the old city. Dating to 1853, it is a remnant of the Otoman Empire that once ruled the area.

“It’s an old military barracks,” said Jamil Siddik, a 63-year-old engineer who oversees renovation works in the city.

The limestone used for renovation is sourced from the mountains that surround Akre, he explained. For its residents, “limestone is easy to use. It’s cheap and available,” Siddik said.

It also provides great insulation. “Concrete blocks may only be 20cm wide, while the stones are 40 or 60cm wide,” he said.

Bewar Majeed, 37, lives in the old city. By his doorstep, kitens were playing in the sun, as the temperature reached 40°C.

But inside the house, the rooms are nice and cool thanks to its limestone walls.

“I don’t need an air conditioner,” he said. “I have a small air cooler, which is enough for me, and it’s less expensive.”

The city’s policy promoting stone over concrete relies on public financing.