One of my biggest interests in architecture is the exploration of how the emergence of new materials and technologies has the potential to redefine the boundaries of design. It is important to bear in mind how the master pieces of architecture of any time don’t segregate advanced materials technology from the spatial expression of the project, making of its integration not only the distinctive signature of the author, but in many occasions his/her professional manifesto.

In the past two decades, architectural materials have started to rely ever more heavily on sophisticated technological advances. This has generated a gradual distancing of designers from the façade systems’ actual development process. As a result, two opposite perspectives have emerged when describing such systems. One comes from the engineering field - in which they were developed - where characteristics and performance are described through technical publications and numerical data. The other attempts to remain closer to the design world through a more glamorous via, using minimal art formats such as abstract images exhibited in galleries and catalogs. Although this second strategy first attracted the design audience, its lack of information on reliable architectural feasibility has favored a fade-out of that first burst of enthusiasm.

This segregation between technology and design is of particular concern in the area of daylight control, since a decrease in electrical lighting usage and a better control of solar gains have become absolute priorities in contemporary energy-efficient architecture. For sustainable reasons, the control of daylight and solar radiation through fenestration systems has received a growing attention in research and has led to the development of a large variety of innovative façade systems. But due to the lack of effective communication between the two areas, a large portion of the contemporary showcase of daylighting systems remain unknown to the majority of designers, who at best envisage to incorporate these technologies a posteriori.

That communication must of course be encouraged at the product design scale, given that the assessment of these systems’ performance by engineers is critical for the industry. But their effective implementation in buildings will ultimately depend on architects. This means that in the academic environment there is an important challenge in promoting an awareness of sustainable strategies at all levels within the design profession: we need to support better integrated designs and guarantee a harmonious association of sustainability with leading-edge design.

We are living a vibrant moment in which architecture is experimenting an evolution defined by sustainable concepts. At the same time, it is crucial to revise how sustainability will shape future spaces. As a consequence, we witness a shift in society values, which include a refreshing openness towards leading-edge technology therefore making the timing of this project optimal. Indeed, there is now a wide range of technological alternatives and metrics available, while market and public perception are still permeable enough to new concepts in merging energy-efficiency, aesthetics and comfort in contemporary architecture.

With these ideas in mind, in the past six years I have oriented my trainning to positioned myself as an intermediate figure to allow a better communication between technology developers and the design profession.