I’m helping put together a design proposal for a small commercial courtyard and parking area, and one of the big goals is keeping the space cool during summer. Standard dark asphalt and massive slabs of concrete just bake in the sun and turn the whole area into an oven, which ruins the vibe for outdoor seating. We are trying to find materials that don't trap heat so badly. I ran across a company while searching for eco-friendly alternatives in Australia. They do a lot of resin-bound natural stone and permeable concrete surfaces. Since the material is porous, it lets the ground underneath breathe and helps reduce that heavy urban heat island effect you get with solid pavement. Has anyone used natural stone resin or porous paving for a commercial or retail space? How does it feel heat-wise compared to standard concrete when it's 35 degrees out? Open to any other material suggestions too. submitted by /u/bigbankmanman [link] [comments]