Science-Driven Design. Future Solutions for Today’s Sustainable Architecture

Carlos will present innovative strategies for designing buildings that significantly reduce environmental impact while responding to today’s urgent climate challenges. Carlos will outline the key issues currently facing the architectural profession — from carbon reduction and energy performance to resource efficiency and climate resilience. Drawing from his research with the Environmental and Sustainability Team at ZHA, he will demonstrate how computational design, data-driven environmental analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration are enabling new pathways toward high-performance, low-impact buildings. The session will offer insight into how advanced research and applied practice can converge to deliver measurable, future-ready design solutions.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• The main sustainability challenges facing architecture today.
• How computational design and environmental data analysis improve building performance.
• Why in-house sustainability expertise is essential in architectural practice.

Speaker BIO: Carlos Bausá Martínez is Head of Sustainability and Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects in London. Since joining in 2019, he has played a key role in establishing the firm’s in-house Sustainability Team, advancing sustainable design strategies and integrating computational environmental analysis across projects. Carlos leads efforts to achieve global carbon reduction targets and certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, specialising in computational design and performance-driven sustainability. Prior to ZHA, he worked at Foster + Partners, combining parametric design with environmental analysis. He holds a Master’s in Advanced Architecture from IAAC and is a LEED AP (BD+C), UK Non-Domestic Energy Assessor, and Construction Life Cycle Specialist. Carlos also contributes to academia, having taught and mentored across leading institutions in the UK, Spain, and Mexico.