The “Galicia Builds Sustainably ” forum puts sustainability and architecture in the spotlight in Santiago de Compostela

On May 20, Ecoforest will launch the “Galicia Builds Sustainably” series at the headquarters of Fundación RIA (Virxe da Cerca, 6, Santiago de Compostela), bringing together some of the leading figures in architecture, sustainability and innovation in Galicia.

Professionals from Fundación RIA, architecture firm Arrokabe, and Galician companies FINSA and Ecoforest will offer complementary perspectives from architectural practice, territorial research and the business sector.

This first session, themed “Designing Sustainability,” will open a series that continues in November with a second event at the same venue. Both events are conceived as a platform for dialogue and knowledge transfer for architects, engineering firms, construction companies and construction-sector professionals interested in exploring sustainability as applied in professional practice.

Sustainability from different perspectives

The event will feature Iago Bastos, Business Development Director at Ecoforest; Iván Andrés Quintela, founding partner of Arrokabe Arquitectos; architect Lucía Escrigas of Fundación RIA; and the Finsa architecture team, in a session that will open up new perspectives on the role of sustainability in the design and development of buildings. The session will be moderated by Manuel Rodríguez, director of Fundación RIA.

Through short presentations followed by a panel discussion, participants will address key issues concerning the present and future of sustainable construction in Galicia: the environmental impact of buildings, the choice of materials, energy efficiency, renovation and the relationship between architecture and the surrounding region.

Agenda

The event will run for two hours to encourage reflection and discussion with the audience.

17.00. Welcome
17.05. Perspectives on sustainability in Galicia: architecture, industry and innovation.
17.50. Panel discussion: Galicia Builds Sustainably, challenges and opportunities.
18.25. Conclusions.
18.30. Coffee and networking.
19.00. Closing

Leading figures in Galician sustainability

Representing Ecoforest, Iago Bastos, Heat Pump Business Development Director, will offer a practical perspective focused on the role of air-source and geothermal systems as key technologies for decarbonizing buildings. His presentation will show how solutions already available are transforming the energy performance of new buildings and renovated properties.

At Ecoforest, sustainability is understood as a combination of technological innovation and manufacturing. For decades, the Galician company has developed renewable heating and cooling solutions to reduce energy consumption and minimize the environmental impact of buildings, helping to accelerate the transition toward a more efficient and better-prepared building stock in the face of today’s climate challenges.

Meanwhile, the architecture team at Finsa will offer a materials perspective, showing how wood is becoming a strategic alternative in contemporary architecture because of its ability to reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency in both finishes and the structure of buildings.

For years, the Galician company has championed the local wood value chain through various initiatives. Projects such as veta.gal and evolta-recicla.gal highlight the life cycle of wood and its potential to advance circular models. Alongside these is A Panda da Dá, a living laboratory for sustainable forest management that demonstrates how innovation, the region and industry can work together toward more responsible management of natural resources.

Architect Iván Andrés Quintela, co-founder of Arrokabe Arquitectos, will bring to the forum the experience of one of Galicia’s most highly regarded practices in contemporary architecture and heritage restoration. His work stands out for its deep connection to place, materiality and the identity of spaces, combining building traditions and innovation with a particular sensitivity to context.

At Arrokabe Arquitectos, the team advocates an approach to architecture that begins with attention to what already exists, both materially and culturally, building a distinctive design language grounded in the specific qualities of each place and exploring the expressive potential of materials and the construction techniques best suited to each project. The practice has undertaken major projects, from coordinating and overseeing restoration work at Santiago Cathedral to developing modular timber construction systems, establishing an architectural practice in which heritage, sustainability and innovation advance together.

Representing Fundación RIA, the event will also feature its director, Manuel Rodríguez, who will moderate the session, as well as architect Lucía Escribas. Their participation will reinforce the foundation’s role in promoting new ways of thinking about and shaping the region through sustainability, research and applied innovation.

Founded by architect David Chipperfield in 2017, Fundación RIA is an independent nonprofit organization focused on the sustainable development of Galicia’s built and natural environment. Through interdisciplinary studies, pilot projects and territorial strategies, the organization connects global challenges with local contexts, working with public authorities, communities, economic sectors and academic institutions. The opening of Casa RIA in 2024 has further strengthened its public mission as a space for exhibitions, conferences, research and debate about the future of Galicia.

Registration

Participation is open to professionals such as architects, building surveyors, engineers and contractors working in construction and sustainability.

Registration is free and can be completed through the website:

https://ecoforest.com/es/galicia-construye-sostenible/

Places are limited and will be allocated in order of registration.