BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Memento EPFL// BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:ENAC Seminar Series - Thermodynamic Architectures: Climate\, Mater ial and Collective Housing DTSTART:20260325T140000 DTEND:20260325T150000 DTSTAMP:20260924T045306Z UID:8454fcd85add4d85d146581a75b9eeebfc50286f5f32f9fad3695459 CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars DESCRIPTION:Prof. José Toral\nThe seminar presents how architecture can r espond simultaneously to the climate emergency and the housing crisis. Wit hin the current environmental context\, architecture can no longer rely so lely on technological systems\; it must recover fundamental relationships between climate\, space\, material\, and ways of inhabiting.\nThe lecture proposes an architectural approach grounded in thermodynamic principles an d in construction systems with low embodied carbon. In this framework\, ar chitecture is understood as an environmental infrastructure capable of pro ducing comfort through spatial organization\, material thermal inertia\, a nd the intelligent management of air\, light\, and energy flows. Research into thermodynamics therefore becomes a key tool for rethinking housing pe rformance\, allowing buildings to regulate temperature\, humidity\, and ve ntilation through passive strategies rather than mechanical systems.\nA se cond line of investigation focuses on materials with low embodied footprin t\, particularly earth-based construction systems. Their experience in ear th construction demonstrates how contemporary architecture can integrate s tructural earth solutions capable of providing thermal inertia\, hygroscop ic regulation\, while significantly reducing the environmental impact of c onstruction.\nWithin this framework\, the lecture presents three complemen tary design strategies developed in recent projects: “spacing” buildin gs through thermodynamic spaces such as atriums and courtyards that work a s solar collectors in winter and ventilation chimneys in summer\; “reduc ing” material consumption through sufficiency principles and the logic o f the three R’s in order to minimise embodied energy\; and “sharing” space through collective infrastructures that strengthen social interacti on and the efficient use of resources.\nThrough a selection of recent proj ects\, the seminar shows how these strategies can be translated into built architecture\, demonstrating that environmental responsibility\, social e quity\, and architectural quality can operate simultaneously within new mo dels of collective housing. At the same time\, these strategies outline a coherent framework that connects teaching\, research\, and professional pr actice\, suggesting shared directions from which architectural education\, investigation\, and practice can evolve together.\n\nJOSE TORAL – PERIS TORAL ARQUITECTES \nJosé Toral is an architect and founding partner\, t ogether with Marta Peris\, of PERIS+TORAL ARQUITECTES\, a Barcelona-based architecture practice. Their work addresses contemporary challenges relate d to housing\, collective living and the climate emergency\, often combini ng material experimentation with new domestic typologies.\nToral is an Ass ociate Professor at ETSAB Barcelona\, Universitat Politècnica de Cataluny a UPC\, where he has taught since 2015. He has also taught at UIC Barcelon a (2010)\, IED Barcelona (2014–2018) and ETSALS (2023–2024). Internati onally\, together with Marta Peris\, he was invited to teach within the Mi lano International Design Studio at POLIMI in 2023. Since 2024\, Marta Per is and José Toral have been invited as Visiting Professors at EPFL Lausan ne.\nProjects by PERIS+TORAL ARQUITECTES have been exhibited international ly\, including the monographic exhibition Peris+Toral Wohnungsbau at Kunst verein Bielefeld\, the Duos program at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris\, and collective exhibitions such as the Venice Archi tecture Biennale (2016\, 2025).\nThe work of the office has received numer ous recognitions. Internationally\, they have been awarded the RIBA Intern ational Award (2024)\, the DETAIL Prize (2024) and the Erich Mendelsohn Pr ize (2023)\, and have been shortlisted three times for the EU Mies Award\, as well as finalists in 2022.\n\n\n  LOCATION:GC B1 10 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==GC%20B1%2010 https://epfl.zo om.us/j/62167785474 STATUS:CONFIRMED END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR