Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses architecture and environmental activism; the realms of creating and acting are particularly relevant since architecture is rooted, among others, within these actions and their relationship to the environment. Architecture is in fact a key field to instigate a critical discussion of environmental activism through the role of technological ingenuity. The book focuses on the work of architects and thinkers who make the case for a convivial approach to architecture through the innovative use of passive energy design. It describes pioneering efforts to link passive energy design with the active political project of advocating for a better, more ethical built world. The book reveals the constellation of authors around it, exposing different positions, questions and thoughts that help us to realize the power of architectural inventions to speak up.