The passive solar greenhouse blind spot: A historical review of book literature and the cultural gap in Western design discourse

This article examines the English-language book literature on passive solar greenhouses (PSGs) − greenhouses heated by solar radiation with no active energy input. It considers both attached/building-integrated and freestanding agricultural types, and is based on the hypothesis that book literature plays a central role in shaping professional practice. The analysis includes both literature explicitly dedicated to PSGs and building design books containing substantial related content. The study identifies a significant structural gap in the transmission of PSG-related knowledge into contemporary practice. To demonstrate this, it uses both content analysis and statistical elaboration of the subjects covered by the sources. While the 1970 s and 1980 s saw a surge in PSG publications, recent books on the topic are rare, and many existing ones do not reflect technological advances in building components, energy systems, and design standards of PSGs − especially those following the rise of superinsulated buildings. This literary landscape corresponds to a substantial lack of PSG adoption in Western agricultural practices corresponds, in stark contrast to their widespread implementation in China’s agricultural sector. This situation appears to be linked to cultural factors shaped by broad, long-term policy actions. Within this framework, book availability can be seen both as consequence and cause, forming a reinforcing feedback loop. The scarcity of updated book literature risks hindering the adoption of PSGs in the West and may misguide developments in emerging domains such as vertical farming (crop-growing facilities developed in height), rooftop greenhouses, and other urban systems integrating green matter into indoor environments.