User-Centered Adaptive Approaches and Passive Ventilation Strategies in Enclosed Workspaces

The global pandemic has made it imperative to reconsider the built environment so that it can adapt to future crises and climate change. Offices, where people spend the most time after their homes, are among the enclosed environments with the highest infection risk because of occupant density. Inadequate ventilation, common in open-plan workspaces and multi-storey plazas, causes sick building syndrome and pushes organizations toward temporary measures such as remote work. Instead of short-term solutions such as abandoning space or wearing masks, however, permanent and sustainable improvements to climate control systems are required. This study examines the relationship between passive climate control methods and occupants' adaptive behaviors, such as window use and clothing changes, to improve thermal comfort and indoor air quality in office buildings. A structured narrative literature review was conducted: international and national databases (including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals and DergiPark) were searched between 2023 and 2026, and 115 sources published between 1970 and 2026 in English and Turkish (peer-reviewed articles, books, standards and health guidance documents) were selected against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and synthesized thematically along three axes: passive climate control strategies, adaptive occupant behaviors and envelope–window design. The review discusses how occupants' dynamic responses affect comfort and energy performance. The results indicate that existing offices should be improved in line with health norms and new projects designed accordingly. Reducing dependence on mechanical ventilation and providing fresh air through passive and hybrid systems protects health and supports employee motivation and productivity.