{"id":36490,"date":"2026-08-26T13:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T11:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/?post_type=project&p=36490"},"modified":"2026-08-26T15:44:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T13:44:15","slug":"fresh-lab-a-community-of-practice-for-adapting-housing-to-extreme-heat","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.geres.eu\/en\/our-actions\/our-projects\/fresh-lab-a-community-of-practice-for-adapting-housing-to-extreme-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"FRESH Lab: a community of practice to adapt housing to extreme heat"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In 2024, <\/span>Geres<\/span><\/a> launched the <\/span>FRESH programme<\/b><\/a> (2024\u20132027) to develop affordable, passive thermal renovation solutions in secondary cities in <\/span>Benin<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Morocco<\/span><\/a>. To embed this approach in a broader dynamic of knowledge-sharing and learning, Geres coordinates <\/span>the FRESH Lab, both a scientific and technical advisory committee and an international community of practice<\/b>. Supported by the Agence Fran\u00e7aise de D\u00e9veloppement (AFD) and the Fondation pour le Logement des D\u00e9favoris\u00e9s (FLD), the FRESH Lab connects field experience with international expertise to advance housing adaptation solutions for extreme heat.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rapid urbanisation and heatwaves: a growing challenge for housing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In many cities across the Global South, rapid urbanisation and intensifying heatwaves are exposing urban and peri-urban populations to increasing thermal discomfort. The gradual shift away from certain vernacular building techniques towards materials such as concrete or sheet metal can exacerbate overheating in homes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside homes, heat stress particularly affects the most vulnerable people, including young children, older people, people with chronic illnesses and women. When households can afford it, adaptation often relies on active air conditioning, with consequences for energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, developing <\/span>passive, affordable solutions adapted to local realities<\/b> is a major challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Connecting local experience and international research to support scaling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Many civil society organisations, businesses and research institutions are already testing solutions to adapt housing to extreme heat. However, these initiatives can remain fragmented and have few shared spaces to exchange lessons, compare approaches and support wider dissemination.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The FRESH Lab seeks to address this challenge by creating an <\/span>international space for knowledge consolidation, action research and co-creation<\/b> around several dimensions:<\/span><\/p>\n