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
PLEA President
Rajan Rawal
CEPT University
Sergio Altomonte
University of Louvain
Leonardo Marques
University of Sao Paulo
Susel Biondi
PLEA Director
Ulrike Passe
PLEA Director
Jorge Rodriguez
PLEA Director
Joana Goncalves
PLEA Vice President
Rajat Gupta
PLEA Secretary
Evyatar Erell
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Natasha F. Pulitzer
Libero professionista
Florian Lichtblau
Lichtblau Architekten BDA
Manuel Correia Guedes
IST - University of Lisbon
J Owen Lewis
UCD Dublin
Carlos J. Esparza-López
Universidad de Colima
Lucelia Rodrigues
University of Nottingham
Evrard Arnaud
ETH Zürich
Emanuele Naboni
Universidad de Sevilla
Vincent Buhagiar
University of Malta
Rosa Schiano-Phan
University of Westminster
Mark Gillott
University of Nottingham
Shady Attia
Liege University
Cláudia Naves David
University of Brasilia
Víctor Arvizu Piña
Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México
Israel Tovar-Jimenez
Universidad Iberoamericana, León
Ramona Romero
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Roberta Kronka Mülfarth
Universidade de São Paulo
Sergio Vera
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Massimo Palme
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa María
André Eiji Sato
Universidade de São Paulo
Maureen Trebilcock
Universidad del Bío-Bío
Carlos J. Esparza-López
Universidad de Colima
Maria Isabel Rivera
Universidad de Concepcion
Eduardo Pimentel
University of Sao Paulo
Sven Steinbach
Erfurt University of Applied Science Institu for Quality Assessment in Building Physics
Aram Yeretzian
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Claude MH Demers
Universite Laval
Eduardo Gonzáles
Universidad del Zulia
Florencia Collo
Atmos Lab / UTDT
Barbara Widera
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
Valentina Dessi
Politecnico di Milano
Philippe H. Saleh
Dar[e]
José Roberto García
Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico
Eduardo Gasparelo Lima
Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo e de Design da USP
Luciana Schwandner
Universidade de São Paulo
Sanyogita Manu
United Nations Environment Programme
Cecilia Jimenez
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Pablo La Roche
Cal poly Pomona / Arcadis
Erik Findeisen
University of Applied Science Erfurt
Felipe Encinas
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Alexander Kader
German University of Technology in Oman
Andrea Sancho
University of Costa Rica
José Alí Porras
University of Costa Rica
Viviana Paniagua
University of Costa Rica
Helga von Breymann
University of Costa Rica
Emily Vargas
University of Costa Rica
Mike Smith
University of Costa Rica