our lab studies how modern modes of inhabitation influence current environmental and social challenges our intersected lines of research reconsider these relationships to promote more sustainable and inclusive societies

building habitats for all beings


tech—inhabitāre

architectural design and technologies for sustainable
human environments in harmony with nature

socio—inhabitāre

architectural history and feminist theory
to foster inclusive and diverse societies

Built4Life at the launch of FUNDARA

Built4Life members attended the launch of FUNDARA, the new Cultural Foundation of Architects of Aragón, created to promote architectural culture and strengthen connections between architecture, academia and society.

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Participation in the IC2 Santander Conference with the paper “Criteria and Challenges in the Selection of Insulation Materials Based on Circularity Principles for Heritage Building Renovation”

Our team participated in the IC2 Conference in Santander (Spain), presenting the paper “Criteria and Challenges in the Selection of Insulation Materials Based on Circularity Principles for Heritage Building Renovation.” The study explores how insulation solutions can be selected according to circular economy principles while addressing the specific requirements of heritage building renovation projects.

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Built4Life presents the comprehensive study of Casa Palacio de los Torrero at COAA

Built4Life presents work in progress from the comprehensive sustainability study of Casa Palacio de los Torrero, which will inform the brief for the forthcoming architectural competition.

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Window replacement begins at Casa Palacio de los Torrero

The renovation of Casa Palacio de los Torrero moves into implementation with the installation of the first pilot window.

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A Built4Life Lab researcher defends his PhD thesis on a national-scale UBEM, the third worldwide and the first fully automated and lightweight model

Carlos Beltrán Velamazán has defended his PhD thesis at the University of Zaragoza, presenting an automated methodology for building a national-scale UBEM, the third worldwide and the first capable of running on a conventional computer.

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Blower door tests establish the pre-renovation airtightness of Casa Palacio de los Torrero

Built4Life carries out blower door tests across multiple spaces of Casa Palacio de los Torrero to establish a baseline for assessing the impact of future renovation works.

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Thermography reveals the performance of the historic underfloor heating system

Thermal imaging helps Built4Life assess the operation of the historic underfloor heating system at Casa Palacio de los Torrero.

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Environmental monitoring begins at Casa Palacio de los Torrero

Built4Life begins environmental monitoring at Casa Palacio de los Torrero to assess its indoor environmental conditions and support the development of renovation strategies.

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NOMINATION - #ArquitectasenelMapa

The innovative tool #ArquitectasenelMapa has been recognized at the XVI BEAU.

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Publication of the Book Assessing Progress in Decarbonizing Spain’s Building Stock: Indicators and Data Availability

The open-access book Assessing Progress in Decarbonizing Spain’s Building Stock: Indicators and Data Availability presents key results from the LocalREGEN research project. It provides a comprehensive framework for monitoring building-stock decarbonization through indicators aligned with European policies and renovation strategies. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-51829-4

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RuralREGEN book published on energy renovation in rural Spain

The RuralREGEN project concludes with the publication of a comprehensive study on the state of energy renovation of housing in rural areas in Spain.

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GIA joins the newly created Institute of Heritage and Humanities

From its creation in 2019, the Institute of Heritage and Humanities (IPH) brings together research groups from different disciplines around a broad and interdisciplinary understanding of cultural heritage, with GIA joining the Institute from the outset.

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GIA is recognised as a Reference Research Group by the Government of Aragón

The Grupo de Investigación en Arquitectura (GIA) is recognised as a Reference Research Group by the Government of Aragón, bringing together researchers around three complementary approaches to architectural research.

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New HVAC systems arrive at Casa Palacio de los Torrero ahead of the first heatwave of 2026

Built4Life congratulates COAA on completing the installation of the new HVAC systems at Casa Palacio de los Torrero ahead of the first heatwave of the summer.

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Poster presentation at CONTART 2026: “Transmittance Measurements for Sustainable Interventions in Heritage Buildings: Protocol and Application in the Casa-Palacio de los Torrero in Zaragoza”

During the CONTART 2026 Conference held in Alicante, we presented a methodological procedure designed to address the lack of reliable data regarding thermal properties in historic buildings.

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Constructive characterisation intensifies at Casa Palacio de los Torrero

Built4Life intensifies the constructive characterisation of Casa Palacio de los Torrero in close collaboration with Estudio Kurtz, responsible for the building’s energy improvement project.

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This is a real team: Built4Life and COAA working together

Capturing the collaboration between Built4Life and the Official Association of Architects of Aragón.

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book launch

presentation of the book **Women and Architecture in a Spain in Transition, 1962-1999**

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Upcoming PhD thesis defence on a pioneering automated national-scale UBEM

On 5 December 2025, Carlos Beltrán Velamazán will defend his PhD thesis, supervised by Belinda López-Mesa and Marta Monzón-Chavarrías within the PhD Programme New Territories in Architecture. The research develops a fully automated methodology for building a national-scale UBEM.

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Thermal transmittance measurements begin at Casa Palacio de los Torrero

Built4Life begins a long-term campaign to measure the thermal transmittance of the 16th-century brick walls of Casa Palacio de los Torrero.

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Built4Life organises a collaborative meeting on the renovation of Casa Palacio de los Torrero

Built4Life brings together the University of Zaragoza, the Official Association of Architects of Aragón and the Cámara de Cuentas de Aragón to discuss the future renovation of Casa Palacio de los Torrero.

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We’ve been awarded the project CircularREGEN!

We are thrilled to announce that we have been granted the research project CircularREGEN. Assessment of the benefits of circularity in building renovation in Spain, funded by State Research Agency (AEI), European Union (EU)

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GIA evolves into Built4Life Lab

The GIA research group adopts the new name Built4Life Lab, reflecting the consolidation of its research trajectory and a more distinctive identity for its work.

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GIA strengthens its interdisciplinary connections through I3A

Several members of GIA, now Built4Life Lab, join the Aragón Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), establishing the group’s presence across two University of Zaragoza research institutes.

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New book published on energy renovation and social housing in Zaragoza

A new book presents the main findings of the EcoREGEN research project, exploring new approaches to the energy renovation of housing in the context of European convergence.

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102
RESEARCH OUTPUT
47
RESEARCH_PROJECTS
156
PUBLICATIONS
23
TEAM_MEMBERS
8
YEARS_ACTIVE