Feel Good, Look Good: Performance vs Aesthetics in Architecture

Architect Rafe Maclean shares how client feedback about a poorly-performing design prompted his journey into building science, while Joe Lyth reveals the heartbreaking reality of watching his children develop respiratory issues in cold, damp rental properties. Builder Josh Atkins describes his frustration with energy-inefficient new homes that cost homeowners thousands in ongoing expenses. These personal stories highlight why performance isn't just about sustainability—it's fundamentally about health and comfort.

The guests dismantle common misconceptions about high-performance buildings, particularly the idea that Passive House certification requires boxy designs with minimal windows. Through their work, they demonstrate how constraints often generate more creative, thoughtful architecture. As Joe explains, "If you've got a blank canvas you can do anything, and you don't necessarily need to judge all your decisions." The discussion explores how early collaboration between architects, builders and clients allows performance requirements to enhance rather than limit design possibilities.

Perhaps most compelling is their suggestion to shift terminology—referring to conventional construction as "low-performance buildings" rather than elevating better practices as "high-performance." After all, would anyone willingly purchase a "low-performance refrigerator" that might spoil your food? This reframing helps normalize better building standards as baseline expectations rather than premium add-ons.

Ready to experience architecture that looks beautiful and actually works?

Key Outcomes:

• Performance is Personal - do you care?
• Beauty and Performance Are Not Mutually Exclusive
• Reframing the Industry Mindset - to code means low performance.