How To Select Materials Using Environmental Product Declarations
A lower carbon number does not always mean a better material. My review process starts by checking whether products use...
Rafael Ontiveros
Rafael is a contributing writer at CIDi FADA UNA, covering architecture research, urban planning, sustainable design, and digital fabrication for modern cities. Rafael shares academic-led insights and case studies exploring the intersection of design, technology, and urban life.
Net Zero Energy Design Strategies for Buildings That Work
A building does not become net zero because its roof carries solar panels. It becomes net zero when the team...
Water Conservation Strategies in Sustainable Building Design
A building can feature efficient fixtures and still waste thousands of gallons through leaks, poor irrigation, or unmanaged cooling systems....
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies That Can Cool US Cities
A city block can feel dramatically hotter than a nearby park, even when both locations share the same weather forecast....
Computational Design for Material Reuse: The Big Shift
When I consider the future of sustainable architecture, I see a major change in how projects begin. Instead of drawing...
Urban Heat Mitigation Case Studies Transforming Cities
I have always found urban heat troubling because it is not distributed evenly. A shaded neighbourhood can feel dramatically cooler...
Digital Fabrication with Recycled Materials: A Smarter Design Future
I have always been interested in technologies that make design more precise without creating unnecessary waste. That is why digital...
Large Scale Additive Manufacturing in Construction: The Next Building Revolution
I have watched the building industry progress from paper drawings to connected digital workflows, but few developments appear as transformative...
CNC Milling for Architectural Models: Master the Craft
I have found that physical models expose design problems that can remain hidden on a screen. With CNC milling for...
Passive Cooling Strategies for Hot and Humid Climates
A shaded home can still feel unbearable when humid air barely moves. I learned that effective passive cooling strategies for...