A Shift Toward Sustainable and Efficient Architecture

Could you briefly tell us about your current job and your career path?

«As for my academic background, I am architect (ULPGC), I hold a Diploma of Advanced Studies in “Architectural Restoration and Rehabilitation. Research, Trends, and Innovations” (ULPGC). I earned my Ph.D. in Architecture with a dissertation titled “Bioclimatic Strategies in Traditional Canarian Architecture” (ULPGC) and the Master's Degree in “Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture” (UPM).

As for my professional career, I have focused primarily on three areas of work: the teaching, the research and the professional work. The latter, through the architecture firm I run: Del Toro & Antúnez ARQUITECTOS.

I have taught at various institutions: as an adjunct professor in the Department of Graphic Expression and Architectural Projects at the ULPGC School of Architecture; supervising Master’s thesis projects at the European University of the Canary Islands; and teaching Structural Pathology and Rehabilitation in Concrete Construction as part of a Master’s program in Structural Pathology, Rehabilitation, and Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

In terms of my research activities, I would highlight my work as aProject researcher at the Gran Canaria Island Housing Observatory, to promote and foster innovation in the field of housing, or as an evaluator in the process of assessing grants for projects led by early-career researchers, for the ULL.

Finally, the work we do at the studio is geared toward two very specific types of clients: lconsulting services to other professionals, such as architects or engineers, and renovation projects for private clients and government agencies. As consultants, we help designers make their buildings more energy-efficient, while we carry out building renovations, tboth in terms of conservation and energy efficiency or accessibility, »to make users and owners feel more comfortable in their buildings."

Why did you decide to specialize in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency?

«Ever since my college days, I had the feeling that the field of architecture was heading toward design attractive and functional buildings, in which there was little interest in the end user—the people who would “experience” the building. Architectural photos showed empty, uninhabited spaces—perfectly tidy houses that gave the impression that no one lived there—and in school, little or no mention was made of the end users of the architectural structures we were designing, or of their comfort conditions.

Once I was working as a professional, I again came across buildings that were featured in magazines and won various awards, yet which nevertheless received major complaints from its users that they are unlivable.

All of this made me reflect and realize that, in most cases, there was a great distance between the architect and the end user, and that architecture was not designed with the enjoyment of those who would use the building in mind, but rather with those who view it from the street or through photos in magazines. In my opinion, we shouldn’t sacrifice either the aesthetic and artistic aspects of architecture or its functional character, but the principle that our clients should love the spaces we design for them and want to spend time in them is one that, in general, has not been fulfilled until now.

Architecture designed with sustainability in mind not only consumes less energy, but also ensures the comfort of its users.«

Sustainable architecture and adapting buildings to climate change are major challenges for architects… Where do you think we should start addressing these challenges?

«The first step is to adapt the current building codes –the Technical Building Code (CTE)– this situation. Currently, these regulations are based on guidelines imported from countries with climates much colder than ours, and therefore the strategies they propose are unsuitable for our latitudes—a situation that will only worsen as temperatures rise.

We've already seen that the Buildings in countries such as England and Germany have experienced serious overheating problems this summer, when temperatures have risen above what they are accustomed to, given that their buildings are designed to capture and retain heat; until now, with cold winters and mild summers, their main concern had been reducing the demand for heating in the winter. The expected rise in temperatures during the summer months makes it necessary to Rethink design strategies for new buildings and adapt those for existing buildings.

Well, The energy-saving section of the CTE was updated in 2019 where it shifted its philosophy—from an approach based on objectives or performance (that is, it sets forth the criteria that buildings must meet but leaves open how these rules should be met) to a prescriptive approach, based on the very same strategies that are causing problems for our northern neighbors. Given that at our latitude we have a There is more solar radiation, and the mercury level is higher, It is urgent to bring about a change in philosophy to this document, adapting it to a reality that is already causing serious overheating problems and excessive use of cooling equipment.

The lack of concern for solar protection in buildings is the biggest Achilles' heel of the current CTE, with a view to obtaining buildings that are better adapted to climate change.«

As a trainer… What do you think the younger generations need to learn in order to succeed?

«Knowledge is constantly changing. For example, in the field of aArchitecture, which is the field I specialize in, regulations used to remain unchanged for decades; however, today they change as often as every five years, which forces us to stay up to date constantly.

I believe that younger generations need to realize that as professionals, we never stop training, staying up to date, and learning. Anyone who thinks that once they’ve graduated, their studies are over for good is very much mistaken. We live in a changing society, where constant progress means that what was valuable yesterday will no longer be valuable tomorrow. We live in the information and knowledge society, And any professional who falls behind ends up out of the job market—just as happens to sharks, according to a Polynesian legend, in which the gods condemned them to swim eternally, thus depriving them of all rest and forcing them to be constantly on the move and in search of food.«

According to a perception survey conducted by the Union of Real Estate Credit Institutions (UCI), Spanish homeowners are demanding more sustainable homes. As a professional… What do you think of this trend? Have you noticed the change?

«While it is true that there is a growing concern about sustainability and, above all, energy efficiency—especially given current energy prices—it is also true that There is still a long way to go in raising public awareness of the importance of living and working in healthier, more efficient, and more comfortable buildings, etc. Our health and quality of life are closely tied to the spaces where we spend most of our time.

Every day, more and more health conditions are being linked to prolonged stays in buildings that do not meet adequate living conditions and that exhibit little or no natural light, fpoor ventilation, temperature and/or humidity problems, »presence of electromagnetic fields."

What are the pillars of sustainable architecture?

«Sustainable architecture goes beyond pollution prevention and recycling. Sustainability is based on three pillars: Economy, Society, and Ecology.

One Sustainable architecture must be economical architecture, without features that drive up the cost or mechanisms to correct errors that have been present since the building's design phase.

It is characterized by factors such as the elimination of social exclusion and marginalization; social diversity in terms of income, age, and ethnicity across all its areas; a high degree of sensitivity to the specific needs of each community group present, especially the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities; and a willingness to communicate with citizens, providing them with the information they need to actively participate in urban life and giving them the opportunity to be heard.

Its design is based on the optimization of resources and materials, the reduction in energy consumption and the promotion of renewable energy, the reduction of waste and emissions, a reduction in the maintenance, operation, and use of buildings, and an improvement in the quality of life for building occupants.

In short, we can say that sustainable architecture is simply good architecture.«

What do you think about the fact that nearly 1.9 billion euros in European funds will be allocated to promoting the renovation of buildings and the development of more energy-efficient public housing? What other project would be a better use of these funds?

«The CTE has very high standards regarding the level of energy efficiency that new buildings must comply with. However, most of the existing buildings, which account for 80% of Spain's residential housing stock, and residential buildings in particular, fall far short of standards for energy efficiency, optimal indoor comfort, and low environmental impact; as a result, they account for a significant amount of energy consumption. 

In other words, The vast majority of our homes are energy-draining black holes.

In the current context, Building retrofits are one of the key measures for improving energy efficiency, although there are clear barriers to their implementation, such as the required investment, a lack of funding, and a lack of knowledge regarding the most appropriate measures to optimize projects from both an energy and economic standpoint. 

Housing renovation grants from the Next Generation EU funds, as part of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, aim to break down these barriers.

Although I therefore believe that the purpose for which these funds were allocated is very appropriate, unfortunately their impact is not meeting expectations, and experts are already warning that some of these funds may have to be returned to Europe because they were not processed in time. The reasons are varied: the grants are announced by the autonomous communities, with very different schedules and timelines; many of them suffer from significant delays in the publication process and in the application procedures; accessing these grants is a highly complex process, resulting in long processing times; and the amounts of the grants are, in many cases, insufficient, especially given the rise in the prices of materials and services in recent months.»

From Structuralia, we would like to thank Eduardo Martín del Toro for his tremendous willingness to participate and his contributions to this interview, which provides us with insight into what is needed to bring about a shift toward sustainable architecture and education.  We encourage you to comment on this interview!