Natural systems like weather are now seen as a problem to be conquered and
controlled with artificial technologies. Humans create built environment and modify
this environment in the search for comfort and control over their own destiny. Built
environment epitomizes human made total control of the environment, to the point
where it even incorporates new technologies to create an appropriate internal
climate independent of that outside.
Traditional principles of integrating environmental influences into buildings are no
longer used in contemporary architecture. Furthermore, appropriate features of
environmental comfort do not exist to be reinforced by the intended building design.
Thus, features can sometimes be created by using latent features. These may
include the creation of elements of the building itself to integrate with the site; wing
walls, verandahs and so on. This paper suggests that the long known principles of microclimate and their
application to building design can be incorporated with new technologies in building
design in order to achieve more occupant comfort with minimum energy expenditure.