Anybody who has walked barefoot across the Kaaba in peak summer season is aware of the sensation. The solar is relentless, the air heavy with warmth, but the marble underfoot doesn’t burn. In a spot the place temperatures usually climb previous 45°C, that small element leaves many quietly puzzled.The courtyard surrounding the Kaaba is paved with high-quality, light-coloured marble broadly recognized as Thassos marble. This dolomitic stone is understood for its excessive photo voltaic reflectance and low warmth absorption coefficient. Somewhat than absorbing and storing photo voltaic radiation like darker paving supplies, it displays a good portion of incoming daylight. In consequence, floor temperatures stay markedly decrease than supplies akin to concrete or asphalt, even beneath extended publicity to direct solar.Scientific analysis has examined this behaviour intimately. A 2022 examine revealed within the Journal of The Establishment of Engineers (India) Sequence D, titled Investigating the Distinctive Thermal Properties of Thassos Marble, analysed the thermophysical traits of the stone. Researchers discovered that Thassos marble demonstrates greater thermal conductivity than typical white marble. This enables warmth to disperse extra effectively by the fabric as an alternative of accumulating on the floor. The examine additionally highlighted that the marble’s microstructure and mineral composition improve each reflectivity and inner warmth redistribution.Complementing these findings, a 2021 peer-reviewed examine titled Cool White Marble Pavement Thermophysical Evaluation at Al Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah Metropolis, Saudi Arabia. Utilizing native climate information and thermal modelling beneath actual weather conditions, researchers concluded that the marble’s excessive reflectance considerably reduces floor temperatures. The examine decided that using cool white marble performs a vital function in sustaining protected and comfy strolling situations for barefoot pilgrims.The cooling impact is bolstered by structural design. The marble slabs are thick and put in over specialised insulating layers and air-permeable areas. This layered configuration allows warmth to dissipate downward and sideways relatively than remaining concentrated on the floor. The expansive open-air format of the Grand Mosque permits steady airflow throughout the courtyard, whereas the regular motion of worshippers contributes to ground-level air circulation.What seems to be a easy stone floor is, in actuality, a fastidiously engineered thermal system. By way of the mixing of high-reflectance marble, enhanced thermal conductivity, layered insulation and architectural airflow, the Mataf maintains moderated floor temperatures in one of many world’s hottest city environments.
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