27 - 31 JULY
COMMON
SENSE ARCHITECTURE​
Harnessing local wisdom for sustainable futures
This conference explores how traditional knowledge and local wisdom can shape sustainable architectural practices. By integrating ecological responsibility, bioclimatic design, and scientific research, we aim to foster resilient and regenerative built environments.
OUR PILLARS
ECOLOGICAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSABILITY
Local wisdom ensures architecture aligns with nature, fostering climate resilience and ecological balance.
INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING
Teaching bridges theory and practice, fostering a discourse that merges tradition with innovation.
BIOCLIMATIC DESIGN AND INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES
From Vernacular to contemporary strategies optimize passive heating, cooling, and lighting, reducing energy reliance.
RESEARCH IN BUILDING AND URBAN SCIENCE
Integrating traditional and scientific knowledge advances regenerative and sustainable urban solutions.
WHY
COSTA RICA?
“Where architecture listens to the rainforest and design learns from the land— Costa Rica is the natural stage for reimagining our built future.”
Costa Rica is more than a destination — it’s a commitment. With over 98% renewable energy, vibrant biodiversity, and deep-rooted vernacular traditions, the country stands as a global leader in sustainability. In 2026, it becomes the stage for rethinking how we build and live in harmony with our environment.
WHAT IS PLEA?
PLEA (Passive and Low Energy Architecture) Sustainable Architecture & Urban Design is a global network and annual conference that brings together architects, researchers, and changemakers to share knowledge, challenge norms, and design for a more sustainable future.
​
PLEA Association is an independent, non-profit network of professionals from diverse fields including architecture, science, planning, and the arts, united by a shared commitment to environmentally responsible design. Its mission is to advance ecological awareness in architecture and urban planning by developing, sharing, and promoting bioclimatic principles and innovative, nature-based solutions for heating, cooling, and lighting.
​
With a strong emphasis on research excellence and professional integrity, PLEA seeks to support the creation of sustainable, symbiotic human environments. It functions as a global, interdisciplinary platform for the exchange of ideas on environmental quality in the built environment. By engaging thousands of professionals from over 50 countries, PLEA contributes actively to addressing architectural and urban challenges. Participation is open to anyone working to improve the built environment in line with these values.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
MSc.Michael Smith-Masis, Harvard LF.
Director - Entre Nos Atelier & Plataforma Justicia Espacial. Professor Universidad de Costa Rica.
Architect (2005) from San José, Costa Rica, with a Master’s in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association in London (2008), and a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University (2019). He is Principal at Entre Nos Atelier Central and the Spatial Justice Platform. He teaches and conducts research at the University of Costa Rica, Universidad Veritas, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and Universidad de los Andes. His work has been recognized nationally and internationally, promoting participation, collaboration, spatial justice, and sustainability.
Dra. Emily Vargas Soto
Architect - Researcher at the University of Costa Rica
PhD in Architecture and Urban Planning, with an emphasis on Sustainable Habitat and Energy Efficiency, from the Faculty of Architecture, Construction, and Design, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chile (2017). She holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Construction (2012) and a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Costa Rica (2006).
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Rajan Rawal​
CEPT University
Sergio Altomonte​
University of Louvain
Leonardo Marques​
University of Sao Paulo
Vincent Buhagiar​
University of Malta
Evyatar Erell​
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Manuel Correia Guedes
IST - University of Lisbon
Carlos J. Esparza-López
Universidad de Colima
Rosa Schiano-Phan​
University of Westminster
Cláudia Naves David ​
University of Brasilia
Víctor Arvizu Piña​
Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Roberta Kronka Mülfarth​
​Universidade de São Paulo
Sergio Vera
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Maureen Trebilcock​
Universidad del Bío-Bío
Carlos J. Esparza-López
Universidad de Colima
Sven Steinbach
Erfurt University of Applied Science Institu for Quality Assessment in Building Physics
Florencia Collo​
Atmos Lab / UTDT
José Roberto García​
Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico
Cecilia Jimenez
​Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Aram Yeretzian​
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Barbara Widera​
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
Eduardo Gasparelo Lima
Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo e de Design da USP
Pablo La Roche
Cal poly Pomona / Arcadis
Alexander Kader​
German University of Technology in Oman
Andrea Sancho
University of Costa Rica
Helga von Breymann
University of Costa Rica
Joana Goncalves​
University of Costa Rica
Emily Vargas
University of Costa Rica
Natasha F. Pulitzer​
Libero professionista
Florian Lichtblau​
Lichtblau Architekten BDA
J Owen Lewis​
UCD Dublin
Lucelia Rodrigues​
University of Nottingham
Evrard Arnaud​
ETH Zürich
Emanuele Naboni​
Universidad de Sevilla
Mark Gillott​
University of Nottingham
Shady Attia​
Liege University
Israel Tovar-Jimenez​
Universidad Iberoamericana, León
Ramona Romero
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Massimo Palme​
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa María
André Eiji Sato​
Universidade de São Paulo
Maria Isabel Rivera​
Universidad de Concepcion
Eduardo Pimentel​
University of Sao Paulo
Claude MH Demers​
Universite Laval
Eduardo Gonzáles​
Universidad del Zulia
Valentina Dessi​
Politecnico di Milano
Philippe H. Saleh
Dar[e]
Luciana Schwandner​
Universidade de São Paulo
Sanyogita Manu
United Nations Environment Programme
Erik Findeisen
University of Applied Science Erfurt
Felipe Encinas
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
José Alí Porras​
University of Costa Rica
Viviana Paniagua​
University of Costa Rica
Sussel Biondi​
University of Costa Rica
Jorge Rodriguez​
University of Costa Rica
Mike Smith
University of Costa Rica