Comfort as a leading argument for sustainability

Can comfortable architecture help us navigate this maze?

INTRODUCTION

Humanity is confronted with unprecedented environmental challenges in the 21st century. As von Weizsäcker et al. (2009) highlight, we have reached a critical juncture where our impact on the planet threatens its capacity to sustain life. In their influential book Factor Five: Transforming the Global Economy through 80% Improvements in Resource Productivity, published in 2009 as a report to the Club of Rome, the authors proposed that humanity could be on the cusp of a new developmental era. They contended that the conditions were in place for the emergence of a "Green Kondratiev Cycle" or "6th Wave of Innovation," with sustainability as its cornerstone.

Among numerous initiatives, the European Union's Industry 5.0 stands out as a prime example of this shift, emerging a decade later to integrate both digital and green transformations. This evolution builds upon the existing Industry 4.0 framework but clearly focuses on harnessing research and innovation to foster a sustainable, human-centric, and resilient industrial landscape. While rooted in Europe, these principles have global applicability, emphasising the urgent need for a harmonious balance between development and environmental stewardship.

In this context, architecture emerges as a vital tool in addressing the climate crisis, energy transition, and socio-economic complexities. The built environment accounts for approximately 37% of global carbon dioxide emissions (United Nations Environment Programme, 2023) and over 30% of the European Union's environmental footprint (European Environment Agency, 2024). This significant impact underscores the need for human-centric design in architecture, creating sustainable solutions that withstand comfort in daily life while mitigating and reversing environmental damage.

Historically, comfort has been viewed as a fundamental human need, with Laugier (1753) tracing the origins of architecture to the primitive hut designed to provide shelter and comfort from the elements. This principle remains relevant today, as Yun and Kim (2014) emphasized the enduring importance of comfort in architectural design. Conversely, in the context of sustainability, comfort must be redefined beyond individual convenience.

Sustainable comfort, as we shall call it for the sake of this essay, must encompass a broader perspective that considers the well-being of future generations and the planet's ecological balance. This reimagined concept of comfort can drive sustainable innovation, leading to designs that meet present needs without compromising the future. This article explores comfort as a central element of sustainability, advocating for a paradigm shift where comfort is not merely a personal pursuit but a collective responsibility. By rethinking comfort, we can unlock its potential as a catalyst for a more sustainable and harmonious future.

WHAT IS COMFORT BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE?

Comfort, in its contemporary sense, often evokes images of plush interiors and climate-controlled ease. However, its etymology reveals a more profound origin. Derived from the Latin confortare (“to strengthen”), the term once embodied ideas of support and resilience (Oxford University Press, 2025). Over time, its meaning has evolved to prioritise convenience, reflecting societal changes. Yet, in the 21st century, this understanding must expand.

True comfort transcends fleeting sensations. It incorporates mental, social, and environmental well-being. In the context of sustainability, comfort must be redefined as a long-term, shared aspiration rather than an immediate indulgence. To achieve this, architecture must embrace the following dimensions:

Physical and Environmental Comfort: Sustainable design can create optimal environments through strategies like passive cooling and heating, maximising daylight, ensuring good acoustics, and maintaining high indoor air quality. These techniques can enhance daily comfort and minimise energy use and environmental impact.

Psychological and Emotional Comfort: Biophilic design, which integrates nature into the built environment, fosters calmness, reduces stress, and enhances creativity (Browning et al., 2014). Features such as greenery, natural materials, and outdoor views help bridge the gap between human habitats and the natural world, enriching our lives holistically.

Societal Comfort: Inclusivity is integral to sustainable comfort. This involves creating equitable spaces where basic needs like clean water, sanitation, and affordable housing are universally accessible. Additionally, addressing global inequalities is vital: while developed nations comprise only 18% of the global population, they account for 60-70% of emissions, leaving billions without access to essential resources. Addressing this disparity is a moral imperative.

Intergenerational and Inter-Species Comfort: Comfort must extend to future generations and other species. This “comfort ethic” demands decisions that prioritise resource use effectiveness, biodiversity preservation, and circularity. In this context, architecture can support a thriving planet for all by moving from mere efficiency to regeneration.
By embracing these dimensions, comfort can become a meaningful foundation for sustainability. It transforms into a shared responsibility, paving the way for a world where well-being and ecological balance coexist, where social-ecological systems like our human settlements can live in peace and harmony with nature and our neighbours.

COMFORT AS A CATALYST FOR INNOVATION

Architecture is far more than the design of spaces; it shapes how we live, think, and interact with our environment. When viewed through a sustainability lens, comfort has the potential to become a driver of innovation.
Passive Design: Techniques like optimising natural light, airflow, and thermal mass reduce energy consumption while enhancing comfort. Passive design is the cornerstone of sustainable architecture, proving that simplicity and ingenuity often yield the best solutions.

Biophilic Connections: Buildings designed with biophilic principles blur the line between indoors and outdoors. Features like green walls, dynamic lighting, and the presence of water create environments that nurture both physical and psychological well-being. Such spaces inspire creativity and foster a profound connection to nature.

User Agency: Innovative designs empower occupants to adjust their environments. Personalised spaces that allow control over lighting, ventilation, and temperature enhance comfort and promote a sense of ownership. This dynamic interaction between people and their surroundings encourages sustainable behaviours.

Regenerative Architecture:The future of architecture lies in creating buildings that give back more than they take. Regenerative designs work harmoniously with their site’s natural resources, utilising renewable energy, reinforcing the local water and nutrient cycle, achieving net-zero embodied carbon, and revitalising ecosystems. These buildings aim not merely for neutrality but strive to leave a positive legacy.
By adopting these principles, architecture can address urgent environmental challenges while enriching the human experience. In this paradigm, comfort becomes a source of inspiration and a pathway to resilience, which in turn is our pathway to sustained endurance.

RETHINKING COMFORT AS A MEASURE OF PROGRESS

As we reimagine progress, comfort has the potential to emerge as a central metric of sustainable societies. Future cities and buildings will prioritise comfort as a reflection of equity, resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Adaptive Systems: Smart technologies will personalise comfort. AI-driven systems will dynamically regulate temperature, lighting, and ventilation based on real-time needs, ensuring spaces remain responsive to diverse occupants.

Integrated Nature: Wellness-focused spaces will seamlessly merge indoors and outdoors. Green courtyards, shaded terraces, and landscaped areas will redefine urban living, making nature an integral part of daily life.

Regenerative Impact: Future architecture will not only support human health but also restore ecological balance. Buildings will generate surplus energy, enhance biodiversity, and revitalise local ecosystem services, setting a new standard for progress.
This vision of comfort offers a compelling roadmap for sustainable development. By embedding these principles into policy, design, and culture, we can redefine what it means to thrive in harmony with the planet.

CONCLUSION: THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF SUSTAINABLE COMFORT

Comfort, reimagined as a holistic and sustainable ideal, holds transformative power. Regenerative buildings that prioritise biodiversity, circular metabolisms, and inclusivity will serve as cornerstones of thriving ecosystems. Urban landscapes connected to nature will optimise resources, mitigate climate change, and foster resilient communities.

These ripple effects extend to future generations, ensuring that comfort is not a privilege but a universal right. By embracing sustainable comfort, architecture can lead the way in creating a world where well-being, equity, and ecological health are inseparable. The future of design lies in solving problems and nurturing a deeper, regenerative relationship with the planet.

Ultimately, comfort’s true potential lies in its ability to inspire. When thoughtfully integrated, it becomes more than a goal—it becomes a guiding principle for a sustainable and harmonious future where all those who inhabit the planet can thrive.





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Laugier, M.-A. (1753). Essay on Architecture. Paris: Chez Duchesne.

Oxford University Press. (2025). Comfort. In Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.). Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.oed.comhttps://www.oed.com/dictionary/comfort_n? tab=meaning_and_use#8984415

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