ENVIRONMENT: global and local

Today, the tools at our disposal allow us to collaborate simultaneously on the same project with people living and working on the other side of the world. The data from the KOF Index of Globalization, which analyzes economic, social, and political globalization trends, highlight how the exchange of information and ideas on an intercontinental scale has significantly intensified since the 1970s: it has doubled in Europe and the United States and nearly tripled in Asia and Latin America.
Nevertheless, every project we develop in this global and multicultural context remains deeply connected to the specific location where it will be implemented. We operate on a global scale, but to create meaningful and lasting projects, we must understand the local identity of the environment and its people.

barbieri | architects promotes awareness and respect for our environment

Sustainable architecture: local action, local impact

Architectural projects often aim to address specific, localized issues. However, their realization generates impacts that extend across multiple dimensions, which we can define as global: the environment, communities, and the economy.
For the “Casa de la Esperanza” Center in Cajicá, Colombia, we designed a project that not only preserves the local identity and respects the environment but also employs local resources to create a supportive space for 150 vulnerable women. The goal is to foster personal development through the acquisition of new skills.
To achieve this, the project incorporates various innovative solutions, such as a green roof that serves as a technological garden. It harnesses solar energy, collects rainwater for irrigation, and provides a space for rehabilitation. Here, residents can engage in “green therapy,” growing vegetables and flowers in an environment that promotes well-being and connection with nature.

barbieri | architects develops integrated sustainable projects

New sustainable ideas: global concepts, local development

“Think globally, act locally” is the guiding principle behind MoSS® (Sustainable Social Model), a tool for innovation designed to adapt to diverse environmental and cultural contexts. This model promotes the convergence of multiple levels of sustainability to create harmonious and enduring solutions.
One of the core aspects of MoSS® is economic sustainability, which complements architectural projects. To this end, the CESA Business School in Colombia has developed entrepreneurial training programs to secure funding and donations, as well as to support economic activities such as agriculture, the restoration and sale of used items, the provision of healthcare services, and the creation of a cultural center that will become operational once the building is completed.
To support these objectives, training courses have been initiated for those responsible for ensuring the project’s economic sustainability, both now and in the future.
In summary, MoSS® represents an innovative approach that combines global ideas with development rooted in local specifics, demonstrating how sustainability can offer a tangible response to the social and environmental challenges of our time.

barbieri | architects researches and experiments ideas for sustainable development