Architecture, AI, and the Loss of Critical Thinking

Artificial intelligence is entering architecture and engineering with a familiar promise: more speed, more options, more productivity. In many ways, that promise is real. AI can help structure information, accelerate comparisons, generate early options, and support repetitive drafting tasks. But it also raises a harder question. What happens when speed starts replacing judgment? This is … Read more

What Does It Mean to Renovate Well?

Reflections on the Art and Responsibility of Re-Designing Our Built Environment by Yann Defrance Renovation is a word that often carries the idea of cosmetic refresh: a new façade, updated finishes, or the replacement of outdated systems. But in the context of sustainability and decarbonization, renovating well is not simply about repair or modernization. It … Read more

André Missenard, the French Engineer Who Measured Comfort Before the World Caught Up

Abstract André Missenard (1901–1989) was a French engineer whose pioneering work on thermal comfort remains embedded in the very fabric of modern building standards. Decades before the international adoption of the PMV/PPD model and ASHRAE’s global reach, Missenard introduced concepts and tools that directly shaped the way engineers understand, measure, and deliver comfort indoors. From … Read more