Global Award for Sustainable Architecture™
Should architecture undergo a revolution?

A revolution in architecture doesn’t necessarily mean a revolution for architecture; it could be a revolution against it. Therefore, as architects, we must ask: Do our practices advocate for the betterment of the environment and society, or are our visions detrimental to them?

Given today’s urgent challenges, such as climate change, urbanization, and social inequality, there’s a strong argument for a radical shift in architectural practice. Society’s loss of confidence in architecture’s ability to address major issues, traditional practices consuming large amounts of resources and energy, and the need to promote better living conditions for underprivileged communities all indicate the necessity for change. Additionally, integrating cultural identities into architectural practices and making sustainable architecture accessible to more people are vital.

Engaging communities in planning and design is crucial, ensuring projects meet real needs and respect experiences. This shift may require renewing architectural education, teaching students to rethink architecture’s impact. A revolution in architecture is not merely a change in styles or materials, but a profound shift in philosophy and approach regarding its impact on the world.”

With rare and honorable exceptions, the Architecture produced served speculative and predatory land interests throughout the twentieth century. The new technologies developed and made available to architects’ ingenuity generated flawed cities and segregated spaces that did not encourage interactions or conviviality, which are their primary design purpose. We used materials that contributed significantly to the current climate emergency. 

We enter the twenty-first century with greater environmental awareness, and awareness of the responsibility of architecture’s social function. What we are seeking is beautiful design where natural Nature and constructed Nature co-exist harmoniously.  We have recently begun to realize that we, as humans, are part of Nature. That the same cosmic dust found in the stars is present in us, too. Faced with a blank page, the contemporary architect finds themselves confronted with these issues as (still) insurmountable challenges over which they must ruminate. 

The discovery of plant neurobiology has fast brought Darwinism up to date, according to which the strongest adapt, survive and reproduce. Plant neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso understands that, in Nature, from fungi to the plant and animal kingdoms, the ones that survived the evolutionary process were the ones that knew how to share; to work with a collective and cooperative intelligence. 

This new vision of Humankind and of the World requires the Architecture of the twenty-first century, unlike previous centuries, to be increasingly social, ecological, collective, transdisciplinary and interactive with the user, whether they are private or public. Our creativity will become more sublime and wonderful if we adopt that approach. I believe this is the great and urgent revolution that we architects must bring about in Architecture.  These necessary and profound paradigm shifts begin and end in the formation of new generations. The educational programs of our architecture schools must be reconfigured to that end, to become the main driver of these transformations.”