Modern Architecture and Climate

Modern Architecture and Climate reveals that regional climate adaptability was crucial to the development of modern architecture, particularly before widespread fossil-fuel powered air-conditioning. The study demonstrates how leading architects like Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra, and others integrated design strategies such as materials and shading systems for interior climate control during the mid-20th century. Barber analyzes projects from Latin America, Europe, the U.S., Middle East, and Africa, showing how architectural designs evolved in response to environmental conditions. The research highlights how architects used images and diagrams to conceptualize climate knowledge, collaborating with meteorologists, physicists, and engineers. This work provides a historical foundation for contemporary zero-carbon design, addressing the cultural dynamism of architecture while acknowledging the carbon footprint of mechanical cooling systems.

Barber, D. A. (2020). Modern Architecture and Climate. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691204949