I studied in London in 1968. Our school had a separate…
“I studied in London in 1968. Our school had a separate department of tropical architecture. Of course it was totally unfashionable, partly because nobody wanted to think about colonialism, but basically what you learned there was that, OK, the sun is here, so you should create natural ventilation here - an unbelievable amount of really sound principles that have been completely abandoned, so now everything is air conditioned with big machines.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Tropical design emphasized natural ventilation, but modern air‑conditioning replaces it, losing sustainable principles.
In simple terms: Old designs used sun and wind; now machines dominate.
Key Takeaway
Re‑integrate passive cooling in modern buildings.
Themes
sustainability
design history
climate adaptation
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- renovation projects
- hot climates
- energy‑intensive buildings
Key Concepts
passive architecture
environmental ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can architects convince clients of passive benefits?
- What modern materials support natural ventilation?
A Different Perspective
Cost and comfort expectations may resist passive methods.