Comment Simple Tech, block the heat, use natural drafts (Score 1) 259
For the open square, a regular grid of telephone poles with staggered height sheets of white canvas or translucent plastic.
This allows unobstructed air circulation while blocking 50% to 80% of the sun's heat.
For passive ventilation, 4 tall telephone poles arraigned in a square with transparent plastic sheets forming a square chimney. Inside the chimney have sheets of black plastic forming an X between the poles. The sun's heat on the black plastic will cause an updraft that will draw cooler air into the square through the gaps between the staggered height tents. There should be a number of chimneys arraigned around the square to provide enough draft to handle the heat generated by the people in the square [10,000 people = 1-5 megawatts].
Water hoses can be strung between the tent poles with mist sprinklers spraying the people in the square.
The temperature may be 111F outside but it will be less than 90F under the shade of the tents.
For passive ventilation, 4 tall telephone poles arraigned in a square with transparent plastic sheets forming a square chimney. Inside the chimney have sheets of black plastic forming an X between the poles. The sun's heat on the black plastic will cause an updraft that will draw cooler air into the square through the gaps between the staggered height tents. There should be a number of chimneys arraigned around the square to provide enough draft to handle the heat generated by the people in the square [10,000 people = 1-5 megawatts].
Water hoses can be strung between the tent poles with mist sprinklers spraying the people in the square.
The temperature may be 111F outside but it will be less than 90F under the shade of the tents.