Dosta Tec

We just returned from the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, where the climate crisis took center stage across many national pavilions. From passive cooling in Bahrain to stakeholder-driven renovation in Estonia and data-informed design in Spain — it's clear that architecture is evolving from mitigation to adaptation. A powerful reminder from curator Carlo Ratti: we must design for a changed world. 🔗 Full reflections below. #VeniceBiennale2025 #ClimateArchitecture #Adaptation #SustainableDesign #LowCarbonArchitecture #Renovation #PassiveDesign

As we celebrate Earth Day today, it is great to remember how it all started. In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, a groundbreaking book that stirred American society and helped ignite the modern environmental movement. Just a few years later, on December 25, 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 captured the breathtaking image of Earth rising above the lunar horizon — a photo that touched hearts worldwide and deepened our sense of planetary responsibility. Momentum grew quickly: 🌎 In 1969, the National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law. 🌎 In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated, bringing millions together for the planet. 🌎 In 1971, Greenpeace was founded, giving a voice to urgent environmental action. 🌎 In 1972, the Club of Rome published its famous Limits to Growth report, warning of the risks of surpassing Earth's boundaries. ... and continues. We are proud to be a part of this movement, and there will be great challenges in the coming years. But we are ready to work. Photo: William Anders, Apollo 8, 1968

Portugal’s cities are changing. With 𝟲𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟬, renovation is essential to modernise housing while preserving heritage. Recent data shows growth in both areas: 📈 Q3 2024: +17.4% renovation permits, +19.0% new construction. However, the challenge remains—balancing embodied carbon reduction with energy efficiency improvements. Retrofits cut embodied carbon by up to 75% vs new builds. But historic buildings often lack insulation, making both summer and winter comfort hard to achieve. 🧱 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮 (like stone masonry) helps cool homes in summer, but Portugal still faces serious energy poverty:  • 𝟯𝟲% live in homes too hot in summer. (data from 2012-2014)  • 𝟭𝟱.𝟳% can’t heat homes properly in winter (2024)  • Portugal leads the EU in 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 (2023) 🏗️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽?  1. 𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦 (External Thermal Insulation Composite System): Effective for minimising thermal bridges but often unsuitable for historic façades.  2. 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀: High thermal efficiency and correction of thermal bridges.  3. 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Reduces peak cooling and heating loads while preserving original façades.  4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Targets double-leaf wall cavities for improved efficiency.  5. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Quick and easy but may cause overheating during summer. Renovation not only reduces energy consumption but also addresses energy poverty, which remains a pressing issue in Portugal. By prioritising retrofits, we can minimise embodied carbon while improving living conditions for vulnerable populations. #energypoverty #retrofit #passivesolutions

Last year AKA Studio invited us to work with them to reduce #energyconsumption for their new project in Krakow. It was a great challenge to meet high operational carbon emission standards. Thanks Karolina Kowalik Agata Łapuchowska Marcin Gzyl for a great collaboration.

Partilhamos algumas reflexões sobre o momento atual do setor imobiliário no Diário Imobiliário, com base na nossa visita à MIPIM, em Cannes, no mês passado. 🔗 Link no comentário. #MIPIM2025 #PortugalImobiliário #ESG #Sustentabilidade #Proptech #RealEstate

Our great Jordana Moreira has just become BREEAM AP. Big kudos. For some time, Jordana has successfully led projects delivering the highest quality. With her enhanced skill set, we are sure she will agile processes further, placing environmental considerations at the forefront.

Our one and only, Julia Karnaś will be a speaker at the next #Rhino User Meeting in Porto Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto. Julia will talk about #energymodelling of #timber and #concrete structures to activate #thermalmass of a building.

One of our projects is growing in Porto. We are currently involved in this massive mixed-use development project in the center of Porto. Our role as consultants has been to focus on reducing both embodied and operational carbon, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment. #sustainability #Porto #carbonreduction #LCA #embodiedcarbon #energymodelling

𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘃𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗹: 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? When it comes to #energyefficient and #climateconscious buildings, insulation plays a crucial role — not only in #thermalcomfort, but in reducing long-term energy use and environmental impact. Two natural-based #insulation options often compared are #woodwool and #stonewool. While both originate from natural sources, their sustainability profiles differ significantly: So, which is best? It depends on the application. If performance demands allow, #biodegradable, #carbonstoring materials like wood wool should always be prioritized — especially in non-critical or hidden applications. Unfortunately, the industry continues to lean on familiar systems — even when #sustainable alternatives could suffice. It's time to rethink how we specify materials, not just for performance — but for carbon footprint, renewability, and end-of-life impact. What’s your take? Are we doing enough to push low-impact materials into mainstream construction? #SustainableConstruction #CircularEconomy #LowCarbonBuilding #Insulation #GreenBuilding #ClimateAction #ArchitectsForFuture #LifeCycleThinking

Yesterday, we participated in an event organized by AsBEA-RS Associação Brasileira dos Escritórios de Arquitetura RS Conexões Arquitetônicas: Brasil e Portugal - Mesa Redonda sobre Arquitetura de Hospitalidade e Reabilitação   It was a great event showing how we can learn from Brazilian architects and what they can learn from Portugal, strengthening connections and opening new doors! Here are some highlights from two panels: 🔹 Panel I – Hospitality Pedro Reis Silva from Saraiva + Associados reflected on the transformation of the #hospitality sector, which has shifted from being largely family-owned to being dominated by multinational corporations. He emphasized how the #EuropeanTaxonomy and investment funds are driving stricter #sustainability requirements, directly impacting both architects and brands. Gustavo Garrido from ArchScape highlighted the growing complexity of projects, increasingly intertwined with technology and numerous experts. Miriam Addor shared the challenging coordination process of the Rose Hotel project, which involved 58 specialities, and addressed the unique complexities of renovation in Brazil. Pedro Paes Lira presented his firm’s #regenerative design approach, including proposals for the #futureoftourism in the Iguaçu Falls area. He advocated for hospitality as a means of environmental conservation and stressed the importance of prefabrication, especially in protected natural areas. 🔹 Panel II – Renovation Tomas Salgado discussed the evolution of renovation in Portugal, which only gained momentum after 2012, driven by foreign investment in urban centers. Today, the focus goes beyond historical heritage, extending to post-war architecture. Thiago Metzker, Dr., a biologist, and partner at MYR Solution, addressed climate change mitigation strategies, urban ecology, and the significance of efficient assembly and from ADOC shared his office's experience working with historical heritage, highlighting the architect’s key role in sensitive Mara Froimtchuk emphasized the importance of #communication and compatibility as essential tools for the success of integrated and #sustainable projects. 💡 It became clear that the path toward #sustainability requires #multidisciplinary collaboration, technical #innovation, and sensitivity to historical and environmental context. Many thanks to Pedro Coelho de Souza (MSc) and Danilo Batista for the invitation and organization! Big kudos to Raimundo Carreiro Silva, Brazilian ambassador to Portugal, for full of passion introduction to relations between Portuguese and Brazilian architecture! #architecture #regeneration #hospitality #regenerativedesign #urbanecology #renovation #conscioushospitality #prefabrication