INDUSTRY VIEWFINDER 31
overhangs & balconies all receiving 21%. It’s undoubtedly encouraging that all of the options received at least some ‘very suitable’ and ‘suitable’ votes for every sector, and interesting that the best solution is clearly sector-dependent. However, there were also a high number of ‘unsuitable’ and ‘not used’ votes for each option and sector, but this could again be a case of certain solutions only being suitable for certain sectors. For example, while fi xed shading devices were only deemed as very suitable for residential projects by 14% of respondents, they’re viewed as very suitable for healthcare projects by 36%. Conversely, overhangs and balconies are more likely to feature on residential buildings (25% very suitable) and less likely on healthcare buildings (15% very suitable). It’s reasonable to conclude from these fi ndings that no solution is totally unsuitable, but rather a good understanding of all solutions is required, enabling architects and specifi ers to determine which is the best fi t for each project on a case-by-case basis. Ventilation is also critical in projects, not only to mitigate overheating but also to be compliant with Part F. Overlapping with passive cooling measures, natural ventilation measures can be effective at not only cooling buildings but ventilating them too. The benefi ts are equal in that they are more environmentally friendly than mechanical measures, but like passive cooling they too face challenges. Worryingly however, when we asked how signifi cant certain challenges are in relation to natural ventilation, all options received an overwhelming majority of either ‘very signifi cant’, ‘signifi cant’ or ‘moderately signifi cant’ votes. These include urban context (such as noise and pollution) which had a combined total of 89%, site orientation & layout (93%) and compliance with fi re & safety regulations (93%).
Receiving the fewest combined votes was building height or form with a total of 85% – still signifi cantly high. However, with safety concerns related to opening windows, the need to rely on building occupants to follow certain protocols, and many built environments – particularly busy urban areas – suffering from high noise and pollution levels, it’s perhaps unsurprising that natural ventilation methods face a myriad of obstacles, making them largely unsuccessful on their own.
Modelling & stakeholder support
Many architects are using modelling systems known as dynamic thermal modelling, whereby a computer simulation assesses and predicts the likelihood of overheating in new buildings, taking into consideration factors such as solar gain, building orientation, occupation, insulation levels and so on. While a great idea in principle, when asked if the modelling systems our respondents use accurately assess the overheating risk, the balance just tipped to ‘no’ (51%). Though not a signifi cant majority, it’s concerning that in the digital age we’re in the technology in use is ultimately seen as not fi t for purpose.
This viewpoint is highlighted further in the next question when we asked if better tools for modelling overheating and ventilation would improve architects’ uptake of passive strategies, to which an
overwhelming majority (91%) said ‘yes’. Evidently there’s a strong belief that not only is modelling technology not up to scratch but it’s actually hindering the use of passive strategies, emphasising just how important it is that improvements are made to the tools at architects’ disposal.
As well as needing the right tools, support from stakeholders is also crucial in order for architects to really pursue climate- responsive design. Unfortunately it seems support is currently mixed – we asked how supportive certain stakeholders are, asking respondents to rank each from ‘very supportive’, ‘somewhat supportive’, and ‘neutral’ to ‘unsupportive’ or ‘not engaged.’ The most supportive according to our surveyed cohort were product manufacturers, which 87% of respondents rated as either very or somewhat supportive. At the other end, contractors received the lowest amount of very or somewhat supportive ratings (30%), and receiving the most votes for unsupportive (24%) was building control offi cers. Planners and clients fall somewhere in the middle, achieving a combined very and somewhat supportive total of 60% and 59% respectively. While the results aren’t drastically bad, they don’t show signs of clear support from all stakeholders either. Product manufacturers showing the most support is arguably unsurprising, given that they will likely have both a better understanding of climate- responsive design and the need for it, as well as have ‘personal’ investment if they have relevant products to sell. Perhaps more needs to be done to educate those elsewhere in the industry to ensure the cruciality of climate-responsive design is more universally recognised and supported.
Conclusion
The challenge of overheating in buildings is no longer a concern for the future, but something that needs addressing now. Overheating will only intensify as the climate continues to evolve, and evidence shows it’s no longer just an issue of comfort, but a health and safety concern too. While our fi ndings show encouraging progress, there’s also evidence that signifi cant barriers remain too. Architects are increasingly embracing climate-responsive design, with many already integrating passive cooling, external shading, natural ventilation and thoughtful building orientation into their projects. Importantly, the industry appears motivated not only by regulatory compliance, but a genuine recognition of the growing risks posed by climate change and the consequential responsibility to create more climate-responsive buildings. While it’s undisputedly important that buildings are designed to slow climate change as much as possible by conserving energy, it’s equally vital to protect the health, comfort and wellbeing of occupants – particularly vulnerable ones – through increasingly extreme weather events. With the Met Offi ce confi rming June 2026 was England’s hottest on record and news headlines warning of the growing frequency of heatwaves, it’s more important than ever that the industry works together and adopts best practices now in order to create a built environment that’s adaptable and better prepared for the challenges ahead.
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2026
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