This is the keynote lecture following the MArch Jury for the Sustainable Environmental Design Taught Postgraduate Programme.
This lecture will delve into the dynamic intersection of ecological goals and digital tools within Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism. We will discuss recent and ongoing research projects, merging eco-conscious principles with emergent technologies, as well as projects that reflect how architectural and planning practice can integrate data-driven insights to create inspiring, resilient, regenerative and resource-efficient environments. From urban analytic tools to the seamless integration of energy landscapes and self-sufficient rural settlements, we will debate how these transformative strategies contribute to a harmonious balance between local well-being and ecological conservation. The discussion will tackle the redefinition of a framework for sustainable architecture and urban design in the age of climate emergency and digital innovation.
JORGE RODRÍGUEZ ÁLVAREZ is a PhD architect, who specialised in sustainable design and urbanism. He completed the MSc AA-SED with distinction in 2008 and a PhD on the relationship between energy and urban form at the University of Coruña (UDC) and the Center for Advanced Spatial Analysis of UCL Bartlett in 2014. He was a recipient of the RIBA Research Trust Award in 2015 and Chair of the 35th PLEA Conference in 2020. He is currently associate professor at the UDC, guest lecturer at the AA SED Programme, and principal investigator on various research projects on the Digital and Ecological Transition and Societal Challenges programmes.
