The Adaptive Potential Of Traditional Buildings and Cities

Traditional societies have for at least 10 000 years lived in adequate comfort in buildings and settlements in a wide range of climates, from the Tropics to the Arctic, without the use of mechanical cooling or the need for large amounts of energy. Until 120 years ago the only energy available to many societies to heat or cool their buildings was what they could find, mine, collect and carry home, be it dung, coal, wood, peat, water or ice. For 90% of the world’s population this is still the case.