As temperatures rise, Mosul rethinks home construction for heat resilience

MOSUL — As record-breaking summer heat grips Iraq, residents and construction experts in Mosul are reassessing how homes are built — not just by installing more air conditioners, but by rethinking the materials used in construction.

Unlike many Iraqi locales that rely on clay bricks, or ṭābūq, homes in Mosul are typically built with cheaper concrete blocks. But with temperatures rising each year, engineers and builders are now advocating for Iraqi-made clay bricks, which offer greater strength and superior thermal insulation. These bricks, however, cost more and take longer to install due to their smaller size and the skilled labor required.

Local experts say Mosul lacks both the labor force and the production capacity to make the transition at scale.

“We need to establish brick production facilities in areas rich in clay, like Bashiqa and Fadiliya,” said Firdaws Fares, head of the follow-up unit at Mosul Municipality. “This would help reduce costs and allow us to bring in skilled labor from southern Iraq.”

Fares said insulating bricks filled with foam or lightweight hollow blocks are suitable for homes up to two stories high, but added that advanced insulation materials are difficult to find locally. “Only three stores in Mosul carry modern industrial insulation products, most of which are available only by special order — forcing many builders to source supplies from Baghdad or Erbil,” she said.

Other recommendations include using external finishes made from clay or fiber-based materials. Turkish foam, once widely used, has been banned by civil defense authorities because of its flammability. Fares recommends switching to cement epoxy topped with tile, saying it offers more durable protection against both heat and moisture.

Bassem Al-Hafidh, head of the architectural division at the Engineers Syndicate in Nineveh, said insulation methods that work in larger cities are often impractical in Mosul. “Most new homes are between 100 and 125 square meters,” he said. “There isn’t enough space for a 30-centimeter air-gap double wall. What’s feasible is a 15-centimeter hollow or lightweight block.”

He also encouraged the use of solar-reflective paint and interior gypsum coatings. “This provides acceptable insulation at a reasonable cost,” he said.

For rooftops, he added, a foam-like material called boban is often used. “It’s about two centimeters thick and placed under floor tiles,” he said.

Kamal Yousif, who owns a paint shop in Mosul, said more customers are now seeking insulation solutions. “We sell Greek-made heat-resistant paint priced between 40,000 and 125,000 dinars [$28.50–$89.30 USD], depending on the type,” he told 964media. “Foam insulation panels, three to five centimeters thick, cost between 3,000 and 4,000 dinars [$2.15–$2.85 USD] per square meter.”