Effortless & Efficient Architecture: Embracing Passive Design
The world’s well-being is solely dependent on one thing: us. The way in which resources are used, abused, and manufactured all contribute to the sustainability of our climate, as seen with barren lands where water once flowed, dry grasses that were lush forestry, or vast mountainscapes that are riddled with holes from mineral extraction and mining. Our environment is forever changing, and with it, is architecture. Sustainable design has been a form of architecture that was purely instinctive thousands of years ago, more notably representing the use of natural materials in unison with human needs. During that time, sustainability was not a product of our detrimental and seemingly inconsequential environmental actions, but rather a resource from the built environment.
Rock-hard molded brick formed tukuls in South Sudan, packed snow created igloos in Alaska, and wooden structures and animal hide were built into teepees in North America. Through these structures, passive design has been utilized as a way to naturally cool homes, fostering well-being in itself. Igloo shelters retained body heat during intense winters, and small vents atop teepees allowed for air to escape, pushing out the heat while providing a shaded space. Historically, these solutions to the blistering summer sun or snowy environments were simply, efficient, and sustainable–before sustainability was a necessity.
Passive design, an architectural strategy that utilizes natural resources to form comfortable and energy-efficient environments within a building, optimizes heating, cooling, and lighting through the use of sun and wind. It can be as simple as a cross breeze from two open windows or planting a tree in front of a window to block sunlight. This manipulation of natural events inside buildings is timeless, mimicking natural environments and providing sustainable solutions to simple problems. Imagine how it feels to be surrounded by nature–breathing in fresh air, soaking in the sun, and feeling a light breeze blow across you. Now imagine that, but indoors. This incredible feeling introduces the concept of biophilia, building a stronger connection between the built environment and nature. It’s merely a tie between what we build and the surrounding environment, but nonetheless enhances productivity, peace, and an unconscious duty to protect the earth.
As crazy as it may sound, biophilic and “green” design dates back to traditional 19th-century Persian architecture, with windcatchers that created passive ventilation in buildings. Yazd, Iran, or the City of Windcatchers, has perfected an alternative to electricity-powered air: catching the wind with bagdir wind towers. According to Green Prophet, the success of these buildings is dependent on “the stone structures [that] channel wind down into a shaft which in turn cools or heats the rooms below, allowing them to remain comfortable all year with zero carbon impact” (Michael). The cool wind is captured at a high level, then flows downwards to ventilate the warm interior, drawing out hot air. Within the building, breezes flow and drift from room to room, contributing to passivity and comfort in design. As an additional advantage, Yazd is built over a channel of qanats, bringing well water to the surface, circulating a cool breeze that glides over the water and ultimately reduces the temperature of the building. Although this technology is not applicable to modern-day architecture, it provides a real-life example of effective passive design utilized before the Industrial Revolution took over the Western world.
Passive design is necessary for a greener future, especially as our changing climate is the product of increasing greenhouse gas emissions and higher energy usage. Rather than turning on an air conditioning unit to stay cool, passive design offers easy solutions to such: opening windows in the morning to draw in fresh air, keeping blinds in direct sunlight closed, or planting vegetation outside so the heat doesn’t directly penetrate the room. The term biophilia, again, comes into play in this manner. While supporting a more sustainable world, these small actions consequently promote our personal wellbeing and health through direct and indirect forms of nature. It feels good to care about the environment, right? So, embrace passive design, encourage the ways in which passive design can be an aid to a more sustainable future, and use ancient architecture as a guide for simple solutions.