Architects in Bulgaria are turning to the wisdom of the past and blending it with modern techniques to build homes that offer refuge from scorching heatwaves. According to the country’s National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Bulgaria experienced its hottest and one of its driest seasons ever in 2024. Local architects say ecological and local building materials like straw and clay allow for better ventilation and insulation. Kamen Pramatarov is an architect who built and lives in a small house in the picturesque village of Zhelen, about 50 km from the capital of Sofia. His house, buil…