Anil Bansal, Founder & Principal Architect, Vastunidhi Architects
We are living in an era where the climate is no longer a backdrop to our built environments, it’s a force actively shaping them. Wildfires rage across previously temperate landscapes. Floods submerge city centers that were once considered safe. Heatwaves stretch on for weeks, testing the limits of human endurance and urban infrastructure alike. In this new normal, resilience is not a distant ambition, it is an immediate need.
Amid this backdrop, the role of architecture is evolving. Public buildings are no longer just static structures of civic engagement - they are becoming lifelines. In moments of environmental crisis, they serve as shelters, aid distribution centers, and beacons of safety. And in day-to-day life, they carry the potential to model more sustainable, responsive ways of living. From schools and hospitals to libraries and administrative blocks, these spaces hold more than their functional purpose. They reflect our collective values and priorities. And today, those priorities must include climate resilience.
The true legacy of public architecture lies not in how iconic it looks, but in how responsibly it endures. Public buildings must lead this evolution by becoming climate-resilient, future-ready, and deeply integrated with their ecosystems.
Anil Bansal
We are witnessing the consequences of decades of ecological neglect. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, heatwaves, urban flooding, these are no longer isolated events but recurring realities. And while reversing the damage is beyond reach, adapting to it is not. In fact, it’s imperative.
What does that mean in practice?
It begins with design thinking that prioritizes performance over appearance. Orientation, shading, passive cooling, natural ventilation, and thermal mass are not just sustainable features; they’re lifelines. Elevating plinths in flood-prone zones, integrating green roofs and walls to reduce heat islands, and designing flexible spaces that can serve multiple functions during emergencies, these are strategic choices, not aesthetic add-ons.
Materiality matters too. The use of low-carbon, locally sourced, and recyclable materials reduces environmental impact, while also increasing longevity. Rainwater harvesting systems, wastewater recycling, and on-site renewable energy sources help buildings become self-sustaining, especially when external infrastructure is under stress.
Technology also plays a growing role. Smart building systems can monitor energy use, indoor air quality, and occupancy levels, allowing for responsive management. But resilience is not just technological, it is social.
Public buildings must be designed with people in mind. They should be accessible, safe, and inclusive, offering shelter, support, and continuity in times of disruption. In many communities, a public library or panchayat bhawan may double up as a relief center. That duality of purpose should be designed in, not improvised.
Equally important is the need for policy alignment. Architects, urban planners, and government bodies must collaborate to make climate resilience standard, not an exception. Incentivizing green infrastructure, mandating climate impact assessments, and revisiting outdated building codes are essential steps forward.
In the end, the question is not whether buildings can adapt, but whether we, as designers and decision-makers, will enable them to. Architecture is more than construction; it’s a declaration of intent. If public buildings are built to serve society, they must also be built to withstand structural challenges, if any, in the future.
