The thermal massing absorbs heat during the day and releases it through the evening.

From her bedroom on the lower level, Schneider can walk out onto her balcony and take in the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The wall behind the bed is the thermal-mass wall that provides heat throughout the night.

The Casa Cuatro sits above a 180-foot cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The locally quarried stone makes the house blend in with the landscape and acts as a thermal-mass wall, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it through the evening.

A side view shows off the thermal-mass wall (to the left) and the stilt construction. "The ridge floor is so fragile; we didn't want to touch it and disturb the landscape," Foster says. As a bonus, the air circulating underneath helps naturally cool the house.

"Beauty," Olafur Eliasson, 1993. In this work, a spotlight shines through a layer of mist to create a rainbow that's only visible from certain angles.

Polished concrete floors provides beneficial thermal mass in wintertime.

Internal brick walls and polished concrete surfaces provide thermal mass that helps to keep the interior spaces cool.

“I wanted to plant a green roof for its thermal mass, but I wanted it to be as natural as possible,” Liang says.

Acoustic Mass speakers by Bose, 1987

Mass Design Group employed open-air passages and clerestory windows to promote the circulation of fresh air and elimination of airborne contamination. Photo provided by MASS Design Group.

Slentex by BASF, price varies per project “The anorganic aerogel–based flexible insulation panel gives superior insulating properties compared to standard blown foam or glass-fiber batting.” Instead of spray-foam insulation, consider this option.

“The entire facade is made of sliding thermal shutters. They’re all individually electrically operated so the whole exterior is mobile, which creates all sorts of varying compositions. The aim of the project was to create an architecture that was a direct reflection of its sustainable strategy, rather than just bolting on green technologies.” —Architect Paul Archer

1993, Pierluigi Cerri.

Some parts of the house have more thermal mass, and stay cooler in summer, while others with less thermal mass require heating in winter.

Rachel Nolan and Steven Farrell’s weekend house is located a couple of blocks from the beach on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula. Built with passive principles in mind, the low-slung structure features double-thick brick walls for thermal massing.

A Martha’s Vineyard retreat surpasses the traditional boundaries of Cape Cod architecture with a contemporary design by Harvard professor and practicing architect Toshiko Mori. Photo by: Iwan Baan

An array of solar thermal tubes crowns the garage, and photovoltaic panels extend like wings over the third-floor deck. “If we were going to make a big architectural move, we had to have reasons,” Moore explains, referring to the conspicuous placement of the panels.

Separated only by large expanses of glass, the interior and exterior landscape flow together.

Murphy revealed that the masons had become so adept at their handiwork upon completing the fourth wall of the hospital’s façade, they wanted to redo their earlier work. Photo provided by MASS Design Group.

Local labor seen at work on the Bhutaro Hospital. Photo provided by MASS Design Group.

A solar thermal wall heats the Maryland home.

Pictured above, the Norm Thermo Cups with Lids are designed with function and practicality in mind. With an insulating interior, the thermo cup keeps hot beverages warm, while the outer layer stays cool to the touch. The lid, which keeps contents warmer longer, can also double as a saucer.

The Stovax freestanding wood fire in the living room is used to heat the home. The concrete floor provides thermal mass, which helps maintain thermal stability.

A photo of Verner Panton from 1993. © Panton Design, Basel

Low-flow bathroom fixtures by Hansgrohe reduce water consumption.

Purple thistles, California poppies, clover, and dandelions have all taken root in the roughly 10-inch-deep, lightweight humus and grape-husk soil in this 580-square-foot green roof. Designer Peter Liang says that he "wanted to plant a green roof for its thermal mass, but I wanted it to be as natural as possible."

Exposed concrete walls provide thermal mass and protection from wildland fires.

Specialized Housing: The 17-story 160 Massachusetts Avenue Tower by William Rawn Associates serves myriad purposes at Boston's Berklee College of Music: It's home to dorm housing for 380 students, a fitness center, practice rooms, performance space, six double-height lounges, and the largest recording studio complex in New England.

Internal brick walls and polished concrete surfaces provide thermal mass that help keep the interior spaces cool.

Formica in Lava Flow

“Interactivity is something we play with a lot—we like objects that offer a lot of flexibility.” —John Arndt

The use of concrete throughout provides thermal mass, while in-slab hydronic heating also stabilizes temperature.

The temperature inside the airy and open interiors is largely regulated by the concrete building’s high thermal mass.

Vitra Fire Station, Weil am Rhein, Germany, 1993

The house is oriented to maximize views of the ocean and Edgartown to the west, and Nantucket and Cape Pogue Bay to the east. Natural sea grasses sourced from the surrounding area cover the roof of the building, providing thermal insulation while also dampening the noise of rain, improving air quality, and helping to manage rainwater flow.

Rather than adding flooring on top of the slab, the floors throughout are exposed aggregate concrete. The thick concrete slab adds thermal mass, keeping the interior temperature more consistent.