In this episode, Dr. Wolfgang Feist ,founder of the Passive House Institute, joins me Jess Kismet to unpack why the Passive House standard continues to spark debate across the building world. Why does a building standard evoke such passion, loyalty, and even resistance?
We explore how innovation in architecture and building science is often misunderstood, and why new ideas, like Passive House, can feel revolutionary to some and incremental to others.
Wolfgang draws parallels to historical, scientific breakthroughs, reminding us that progress doesn’t always mean reinvention.
From the importance of critical thinking in evaluating standards to the human tendency to defend familiar ways of building, this episode takes a thoughtful look at how emotion, history, and science intersect in the pursuit of better buildings.
Useful Links
Bo Adamon - Lund University - Co-creator of Passive House
The World's First Passive House - Darmstadt - Kranichstein, Germany
The Camel - a living air conditioner
Social Media Links