Comfort in architecture

I am investigating the concept of comfort in
design and architecture, and in particular
whether comfort is an ultimate goal in
design, or whether it should be sacrificed
for greater ends - either aesthetic or
intellectual. I am aware of a "house of
intellectual rigour " constructed in Tokyo
(I think), which aimed to engender  a high
intellectual and spiritual plane in its
inhabitantas through physically
uncomfortable aspects such as an external
exposed staircase linking the floors
 A Rietveld red/blue wood chair appears
aesthtically pleasing but hardly
comfortable.
Any ideas? Thanks in anticipation,

                    Gordon Turnbull,
                     MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.