As a heat-dome descends over western Europe, potentially bringing temperatures up to 40C to parts of England and Wales, homeowners are seeking ways to stay cool. According to architect Ben Roberts, a senior lecturer at Loughborough University, properties built between 1837 and 1901—the Victorian era—have a natural advantage over modern homes.
Victorian Design Keeps Cool
Writing on The Conversation, Roberts explains: "Victorian homes were constructed long before the complex computer models used today to design buildings were invented. Yet, these homes, built over 100 years ago, are cooler in summer than many built more recently." The Met Office warns that temperatures could surpass the June record set in Hampshire in 1976 and approach the UK's all-time high of 40.3°C recorded in July 2022.
Key features of Victorian homes include external wooden shutters, which block the sun's heat before it enters the building. "The Victorians knew that blocking the sun's heat before it enters the building is among the best ways to reduce overheating," Roberts notes. Few 20th-century UK homes have such shutters, partly because modern outward-opening casement windows cannot accommodate them.
Sash Windows and Ventilation
Victorian sash windows also aid cooling. Their design allows hot air to exit at the top while cooler air enters at the bottom, creating effective natural ventilation. "With hinging casement windows on modern homes, the air coming in is often blocked by the air going out, so they don't keep homes as cool," Roberts explains.
Additionally, Victorian homes were built with open fireplaces and chimneys, making them "the leakiest and least airtight homes in the British housing stock," according to Roberts. This allows more air circulation, cooling the home when outdoor temperatures are lower. Suspended timber floors store cool air beneath the building during the day.
Thermal Mass Advantage
Roberts highlights the role of thermal mass: "Walk into an ancient church on a hot day and you may mistakenly think they've installed air-conditioning. The real reason is the huge amounts of thermal mass." Victorian homes have solid brick or stone walls that absorb and store heat, keeping interiors cool. In contrast, modern UK new builds use lightweight timber and plasterboard, which lack this capacity.
Roberts concludes that as UK summers become hotter, the design principles of Victorian homes—shutters, sash windows, and high thermal mass—offer valuable lessons for keeping cool without air conditioning.
