The Changing Perception of Climate in Architecture

As an issue, the modern ‘climate emergency’ is a relatively new concept, representing a substantial departure from the traditional concerns of architects in relation to climatic responses within their designs. While historically, architects may have paid attention to climate considerations for reasons of comfort, air flow and temperature, the current emphasis on ‘climate emergency’ is much broader, and much more urgent. Often attributed to the ‘Wilshire Declaration’ of 2019, the increasing urgency around climate action has been acknowledged by the majority of the world’s leading nations and organisations, and is now widely viewed as a serious global challenge in need of immediate resolution. This has had a notable effect on architectural practice, which is now increasingly focused on the development of sustainable, environmentally-friendly and regenerative ‘zero carbon’ designs. This new focus can be clearly seen in the work of leading contemporary architectural practices, such as Foster + Partners, SOM and MOS Architects. For example, Foster + Partners’ latest projects have incorporated principles of ‘arcology’ – a combined urban design and architecture focused on creating energy efficient, low-carbon structures. This approach has been particularly visible in the practice’s designs for the urban district of Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates, which is a notable example of a ‘green’ city, providing housing and other facilities in a zero-carbon and environmentally sustainable manner. MOS Architects has also embraced the contemporary emphasis on ‘climate emergency’, with projects such as the NY 512 House in New York City, which has an emphasis on off-grid living and the use of renewable energy and materials. This project includes a range of features such as a vegetable garden, rainwater collection and reuse system, and a green roof, all of which serve to minimise the environmental impact of the building. In contrast to the work of these modern architects, historically, many of the approaches taken to climatic response in architecture were much more general in nature, attempting to address more localized issues such as temperature, air flow, and comfort. For example, Frank Lloyd Wright famously employed strategies such as cross-ventilation and low-rise design as part of his Prairie style of architecture. While this approach addressed certain climate conditions, it did not consider the wider environmental implications of the building, such as energy consumption and the use of sustainable materials. Overall, the modern