This document discusses several concepts related to intelligent, sustainable buildings. It begins by providing context on terminology and philosophy, including discussing Ove Arup's philosophy of total design and close collaboration between architects and engineers. It then discusses several historical examples of naturally ventilated buildings and passive design strategies from places like Indonesia, Turkey, and Georgia. The document emphasizes the importance of considering people and well-being in building design. It discusses metrics like absenteeism and productivity, and standards like WELL. Finally, it explores lessons that can be learned from nature, including through biomimetics and examining structural aspects of animals like termites, spiders, and camels.