I started studying sustainable architecture and discovered a new way of designing with purpose
- Amanda Braga
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
It was supposed to be just another sponsored story, but that day, it was as if architecture had given me a gentle nudge on the shoulder and whispered: “hey, look at this.”
I saw the name UGREEN. I already knew the profile, I had been following it for a while. I always admired the posts about sustainability in construction, ecological materials, and ideas that pave the way. But I confess that I had never really stopped to delve deeper. Maybe because I am still in the beginning of college. Second semester, to be more precise. But something about this Sustainable Architecture Workshop ad caught my attention.
I signed up.
And it was three days of workshops, totaling more than 6 hours of online classes. Three days of a new universe opening up before me, as if a door had been unlocked for the first time.
I have always been interested in sustainable, purposeful architecture. I had the more familiar knowledge: earthen constructions, rainwater harvesting, ecological septic tanks, green roofs, composters. But what I saw in this workshop showed me that the problem is much deeper. And incredibly more fascinating.
For example, I learned about the decarbonization of the construction industry. I had never heard that term before. But it made so much sense. I discovered that almost 40% of global CO2 emissions come from our area. Building pollutes. A lot. And it is urgent to think of ways to do things differently.
I was delighted with the software that was presented. The first was Climate Consultant . It analyzes climate data from cities around the world. Yes, real data that we can download and use from the beginning of the project. From there, the program itself proposes sustainable solutions for that region. This made me reflect on how climate and thermal comfort need to be a priority, not a complement.
Then came DIALux , a software for designing lighting in environments. It simulates both natural and artificial light. With it, we can plan everything from the size of the windows to the positioning of each light point. The impact of this on sustainability is huge, because it optimizes resources and increases well-being.
And what about the bank of sustainable materials presented? Many of them have low or no carbon emissions. Others have cleaner, biodegradable, local production processes. I wondered how this knowledge could be mandatory in architecture and design training.
But perhaps the most revealing moment for me was when they talked about biophilic design .
Until now, I thought it was just about bringing more green into our environments. But it’s not just about that. It’s about creating atmospheres where people feel connected to nature and life.
It's about bringing together five or more sensory and emotional strategies in an integrated way. Light, sounds, textures, shapes, ventilation, visual contact with trees, water, movement... This really got to me. I found myself creating projects that not only work, but that heal the soul .
Ultimately, the entire workshop was a call. A reinforcement that the architecture I want to experience is one that respects the planet, that welcomes, that transforms, that heals.
And even though I'm so early in my journey, something inside me already knows: this is the way.
If you also feel this restlessness to do things differently, perhaps it's worth taking a look at what UGREEN is building.
And if you want to explore more about the workshop and the tools I mentioned, here is the official UGREEN link . It's worth every minute.
Below, I share the summary of each of the three workshop classes, with the main points covered that expanded my vision of sustainable architecture:
Comments