Negotiating Boundaries: Climate and the Building Envelope in Central American Architecture

Open House in the Jungle byKsymena Borczynska hiding among the trees. Image © Ksymena BorczynskaIn temperate and cold climates, architecture typically begins with a defensive gesture. The building envelope is a sealed boundary designed to resist the exterior environment through insulation, vapor barriers, and mechanical control. In cold countries like Canada, where winter temperatures can plunge well below freezing, airtightness is not a luxury. In this context, buildings must resist the ex