The building envelope as an answer to comfort
Mechanical cooling of air originated in 1902. Afterwards, the thermostat and the fixed set point tailored to the ‘standard comfort level’ also became more common. This process was accelerated even more after the integration of air conditioning in cars, buses and trains. Air conditioning has become so accessible that everyone has become accustomed to it.
In the meantime, companies continue to search for new technologies to meet our ever-increasing comfort expectations. But blindly trusting technology creates energy scarcity in a world where mobility, AI, clouds and blockchain also compete for green energy.
In contrast, the building styles of the past show proven alternatives that provided comfort with a tighter energy supply. Construction methods from other climate zones with a similar supply of raw materials and sun positions can also provide inspiration for low-tech solutions.
Buildings that are self-sufficient, holistic and low-tech thanks to an intelligent facade design can significantly reduce our energy footprint and dependence on electricity or fossil fuels.
Supported by historical experiment, we can break through the contemporary uniformity and at the same time avoid mistakes from the past.
A new movement will emerge if we look for the solution for climate and comfort in the building shell and in lessons from the past. We must then convert these into a contemporary image.
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