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.
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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.
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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).