TEN Arquitectos Advocates for Holistic Sustainability in Architecture

Issue 88 of Glocal Design Magazine examines sustainability as a comprehensive system reshaping contemporary architectural practice. The publication features TEN Arquitectos, whose approach integrates climate, social context, and economic factors from the initial design phase. Founder Enrique Norten argues that sustainability requires deep reconsideration, as its frequent use has diluted its conceptual precision. The firm's methodology positions architecture as a mediator between resources, context, and community, extending beyond environmental concerns to include social, economic, and political dimensions. Their work in Latin America, where limited resources are common, has driven solutions responsive to climate and site, favoring passive strategies that optimize comfort through design. Projects like Hotel Habita, the Escuela Nacional de Teatro, and the Centro Cultural España exemplify this logic, prioritizing efficiency, context, and user experience. While critical of widespread environmental certifications, TEN Arquitectos acknowledges their role as minimal industry benchmarks that encourage better practices. The firm also incorporates circular economy principles through material reuse and process optimization, redefining architecture's role in shaping the built environment. This perspective demonstrates that sustainability is built from the project level by integrating multiple variables into a coherent, contemporary vision.