The Relationship Between a Building, the Environment, and the Occupants Inside

For as long as humans have roamed this Earth, they have developed shelters to protect themselves from the elements. These shelters later developed into homes, and over time people discovered techniques to not only make these homes livable, but also increasingly more comfortable, learning to utilize the outside environment to passively heat, cool, and ventilate the spaces they occupy.

Over time as technologies like modern air conditioning were introduced, architects continued pushing the boundaries of design, while unfortunately leaving behind the immense power that the outside environment can provide us. Much of the modern-day built environment too often keeps the outside environment out, rather than utilizing it to create a better environment within. i.e. the New York City Skyline

This dynamic is slowly changing, however, as more architects are beginning to infuse passive design techniques into modern construction. In Florida, many residential architects are incorporating these techniques through philosophies like indoor-outdoor living, designing homes that seamlessly transition between interior and exterior spaces. They often use large sliding doors that fully open, blurring the lines between conditioned and unconditioned space.

During the cooler months of the year these doors work in conjunction with casement windows to create convective currents that naturally condition the space. These design tactics not only create a comfortable temperature within the space, but also help reconnect inhabitants with the natural environment, introducing fresh air, sun exposure, and surrounding plant life into spaces that otherwise can often become stale and disconnected from the rest of the world.

We as designers must continue improving upon our use of philosophies such as passive design, as we are architects of the human experience as much as that of the built environment; and it is our duty to design spaces that embrace and enhance the natural world rather than neglect it, thereby improving both the health of mankind as well as the beautiful world we live in.