The fine print

Transsolar is a climate engineering studio founded in Stuttgart by Matthias Schuler, focused on integrating natural forces into architectural design. Among their most emblematic works, Lightscapes (2016) and Cloudscapes (2015) transform light, fog, and microclimates into elements of spatial experience. Through these experiments, Transsolar proposes architecture that actively interacts with the climate, creating sustainable and sensitive environments.

In which ways does your project participate in the general idea of Intelligens launched by Carlo Ratti?
Our installation Terms and Conditions is part of the first room of the Arsenale and serves as an introduction to the exhibition. Instead of presenting solutions, it is a wake-up call from the collective unknown: “Did we remember to read the fine print?”. The installation brings to life the scientific predictions of the long-term impact of our actions today. Based on research by our collaborators from the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH, it reflects the calculated ambient temperatures for Venice in 2100 – 42°C on a typical summer day – if we continue on our current path. It also questions the growing reliance on technology as a clever – and occasionally essential – solution to the “overheating problem.” Already today, air conditioners and electric fans account for 10% of global electricity consumption, a figure expected to triple if we continue without taking meaningful action (IEA, 2018). Yet, our dependence on artificially controlled environments is proving to be unsustainable in the face of a rapidly warming planet. This raises a fundamental question: instead of designing solely for comfort, should we reconsider our expectations? The expectation of constant comfort is no longer viable. Instead, a shift in perspective is needed: from designing for absolute comfort to designing for the edge of discomfort, where adaptation and resilience become part of the spatial experience. Terms and Conditions explores the impact of man-made systems and their influence on the environment. Grounded in scientific research, the installation offers a collective experience, inviting visitors to reconsider their expectations and imagine alternative ways of living together.

Your simulations take into account the consequences of climate change and use weather data predicted by current climate research. How much will climate be a determining factor in our personal and social existences?
Climate is increasingly shaping how we live and coexist: beyond its environmental consequences, climate change also has a profound social dimension – affecting public health, influencing migration patterns, and reshaping how cities are planned. Yet, these impacts are not experienced equally. A community’s vulnerability to climate change is deeply tied to its social, economic, political and environmental context – both past and present. While some may have the means to relocate or create artificially comfortable environments, others face greater exposure to heat stress with fewer means to adapt. The use of conventional cooling systems such as air conditioning, to maintain comfort for a part of the community, often comes at a cost to the rest, including marginalized groups, vulnerable populations, and future generations. Thermal inequity is already a pressing issue, one that is intensified by rising expectations and standards of living. The effects of climate change are no longer a distant threat, but a present reality.

What does it mean to adapt to climate? Given the conditions today, is it really possible to design a climate transformation?
Projections not only show a shift of typical climate conditions but also an increase in frequency and intensity of climate extremes. At the same time, the building sector accounts for 37% of global emissions (UNEP, 2023), highlighting the urgency to reduce its environmental impact. Together, these factors emphasize the need for a resilient and climate-adaptive built environment. However, designing for a changing climate means more than just adapting – it requires buildings that actively contribute to climate solutions. Adaptation alone is reactive; it helps us cope. Mitigation, on the other hand, calls for a fundamental rethinking of how we build and live to prevent further environmental harm. When adaptation and mitigation strategies are considered hand in hand, they create a more proactive and holistic approach, enabling us to take meaningful steps toward supporting climate transformation in the building industry.

Your project speaks of new terms and conditions to deal with in 2100, a situation of adaptation to the discomfort in which we will be forced to live. What then is the cost of comfort?
Terms and Conditions represents the cost of comfort as a physical experience, urging us to reflect on what we define as comfort and what we are willing to sacrifice to achieve it. Overly climate-controlled interiors relying on air conditioning units demand significant infrastructure, resources, and energy, all in the pursuit of creating a barrier that isolates the interior from the undesirable conditions outside. The “cost” of universal indoor comfort is increasing along with the rising outdoor temperatures. More energy, more exhaust heat, which makes the outdoor even warmer – a vicious circle. We, as climate engineers, focus on developing concepts that bring together comfort and a low carbon footprint in construction and operation. We question standard comfort conventions and consider all factors, from location to design and regulations, in our search for holistic solutions that minimize the cost of comfort.

Featured image: Terms and Conditions – Courtesy La Biennale di Venezia – Photo Marco Zorzanello