How can architecture adapt to the climate?
Working Space © EPFL / LAST / Olivier Wavre
Prof. Emmanuel Rey, head of the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST), was the guest on Radio Télévision Suisse's "Point J" podcast on September 25 to discuss the key challenges that climate change poses for architecture.
From Monday to Thursday at the end of the day, "Point J" takes the time to delve into a topical issue, inviting those with a personal, informed, sharp opinion on the subject. The September 25 episode was devoted to the question "How can architecture adapt to the climate?
On this occasion, Prof. Emmanuel Rey highlighted the twofold challenge that climate issues represent for architecture. On the one hand, climate protection requires a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn calls for the implementation of low-carbon architecture, both in the renovation of existing buildings and in the construction of new bioclimatic buildings.
On the other hand, although several measures have been taken to protect the climate since the beginning of the century, these have so far proved insufficient to reverse the current trends. This translates into global warming, which requires multiple convergent actions at the different scales of intervention for the architect, from neighborhoods in transition to construction details.