Climate Change and Architecture

Climate Change and Architecture

Framing

This debate concerns how architecture should respond to climate change and the new climatic regime. Latour's theory of Gaia demands architectural response that includes nonhumans and recognizes the limits of modern purification.

Positions

Position A: Technological Fix

Architecture responds to climate change through technical solutions: green building, renewable energy, sustainable materials. This extends modern faith in technological progress.

Position B: Cosmopolitical Response (Latour)

Latour argues climate change demands cosmopolitical design — diplomatic composition of common world among heterogeneous actors. Gaia is not a backdrop but an active participant requiring architectural diplomacy.
Key texts: yaneva-latour-for-architects

Key Texts