The twentieth century saw the widespread adoption of sealed building envelopes and mechanical climate control systems. This approach allowed architects to create stable interior environments regardless of external conditions but led to a major increase in energy consumption. Buildings have become increasingly dependent of fossil fuels to maintain comfort, particularly in regions with extreme climates.
The energy crisis of the 1970s marked a critical turning point. Rising energy costs and concerns about resource scarcity forced architects and researchers to reconsider the sustainability of mechanically conditioned environments. As Daniel Barber argues, this period prompted a renewed focus on passive design strategies, including solar orientation, insulation, and thermal mass (Barber, 2020). Similarly, Anthony Denzer documents the resurgence of solar houses as experimental models for energy-efficient living (Denzer, 2013).
Thermal comfort, once achieved through energy intensive mechanical systems, required careful environmental control. Architects began to explore how building form, material, and orientation could work together to reduce energy demand while maintaining livable conditions. This shift did not produce a single unified approach but a range of experimental and research-driven solutions to combat heating, cooling, and ventilation challenges across various climates