This paper provides a historical context for the Probe studies reported in this special issue by describing the stalled development of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) in Britain since the 1960s. It charts 40 years of continuing academic, professional and commercial neglect of POE as a mainstream activity in the procurement of buildings in Britain. It notes the current resurgence of interest in the ‘customer care’ focus of the Egan Report. And it closes by identifying a re-emerging research agenda for POE in Britain. This could include its use for benchmarking progress in the transition towards more sustainable production and consumption of the built environment. Cet article rappelle le contexte historique des etudes d'evaluation Probe faisant l'objet de cette publication speciale en decrivant l'evolution stoppee de l'evaluation de la fontionnalite de bâtiments apres emmenagement (POE) en Grande-Bretagne depuis les annees 1960. Il retrace 40 annees de negligence continue, aux niveaux academique, profession...