This intensive course immerses participants in the biodiversity of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest to inspire circular architectural design for tropical cities facing climate change. Based in Alter do Chão, the programme introduces biomimetics as a project methodology, integrating local bioconstruction techniques with digital design tools to support conceptual development and communication.

Students will explore how functional and structural strategies from native flora and fauna can inform innovative, circular design approaches. Through hands-on workshops, they will engage with sustainable construction methods using locally sourced materials and experiment with digital design processes to enhance their proposals.

A key focus will be the traditional intelligence of local communities, who have developed adaptive architectural solutions in response to the Amazon River’s annual flooding. These lessons—related to buoyancy, ventilation, shading, bioconstruction and material reuse—offer valuable insights for Western cities increasingly affected by sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

The course is part of “Cinnovate: Towards Future Circular Cities through Innovative Education and Entrepreneurship”, a pan-European initiative funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union under Horizon Europe.

Programme Guide

PROMINENT FEATURES OF THE WORKSHOP/ SKILLS DEVELOPED

• Develop innovation skills in circular architectural design.
• Be introduced to biomimetic principles applied to architecture.
• Attend a curated lecture series featuring experts from the AA Visiting School network
• Learn and prototype traditional bioconstruction techniques alongside local artists and builders.
• Develop a systemic understanding of the Amazon’s ecological and social dynamics.
• Gain proficiency in digital design tools, including Grasshopper.
• Receive an official transcript from the Architectural Association upon completion.