Professor Ana Costa
Professor of Sustainable ArchitectureProfile
Hello! My name is Ana Rute Costa and I’m a Portuguese architect. I studied architecture in Porto, in an inspiring building designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira. I worked as an architect as freelancer and in different practices. I value the impact of place in architecture and how architecture can improve our life quality and create a perfect harmony between body, mind, and space.
As an architect and Passivhaus designer, my work has been internationally recognized (Mies van der Rohe Award 2015 & ECOLA Award 2015). I have designed, lead, managed and coordinated architectural projects (public and private clients) of different scales, with several different environmental demands and stages of the design process. Currently designing my little Passivhaus!
As an architectural educator, I like to stimulate students’ creativity and critical thinking, ultimately enabling them to be resilient and problem-solving professionals. I’m always willing to improve my teaching practices, learning from you and empowering you to be better architects than me!
My current research focuses on Material Reuse and Materials Passports to enable circular economy solutions in construction. Complementary, I am interested in the design of learning and teaching spaces and how architecture can enhance our learning experience.
When I’m not working, I like to spend time with my family (I’m a mother of three), I like to cycle, run, row, sew, bake and I am an aspiring illustrator.
I see the world as a big house that we all need to look after; together we can make a change and contribute to a better built environment.
Research Overview
I am an educator, researcher, chartered architect and certified Passivhaus Designer, fostering the creation of dynamic links and knowledge exchange between academia and industry. My research focuses on accelerating material reuse in construction, reducing whole life carbon and enabling a circular economy. Complementary, I am an expert on teaching and learning spaces, with several projects, consultancy and publications developed in the area.
Research Interests
I am interested in understanding how architecture can respond to current societal and environmental challenges and take users perspectives into consideration. I led the ‘Accelerating Material Re-use in Construction’ project funded by AHRC. My research focus lies on enabling a circular economy in the construction sector through materials reuse and material passports. My current research focuses on material reuse and prioritize deconstruction over demolition and design for disassembly (End of life design).
I am also an educational researcher with a strong specialism in Learning and Teaching spaces. My research focuses on analysing the impact of the built environment in teaching and learning through ethnographic and visual research methods. I am interested in research how architecture and design can foster better learning and teaching spaces and improve learning outcomes.
Current Teaching
As Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Architecture I oversee the course delivery and I ensure content consistency across different modules and years. I am the year three leader and I convene the year 3 Architectural Design modules and the Integrated Technology and Professional Studies Modules. Complementary, I lead the Architecture Summer School, a full week of workshops, activities delivered by the end of the academic year. This is a great opportunity to bring everyone together, promote peer learning opportunities and have fun! I am also the coordinator of the TEA talks, a series of informal talks from our School of Architecture on the theme of Technology, the Environment, and the role of Architecture, now and in the future. You can watch the previous talks on our YouTube channel.
Current Research
In 2024, I have co-authored the Materials Passports: Accelerating Material Reuse in Construction policy paper. The purpose of this paper is to enable the widespread adoption of materials passports to support a circular economy. We provide a suit of guidance and templates to facilitate the immediate and comprehensive adoption of materials passporting across Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry. Following this work, I am currently involved on a series of research projects to implement material passports at different contexts and scales and analyse how to improve current practices.
As a specialist in Teaching and Learning Environments, I published an edited book with Professor Rachel Cooper about Design for Education for Routledge and several publications about home and school learning environments.
External Roles
Honorary PGR Supervisor - University of Liverpool
IAA: End of Renewable Asset Life Decisions II
11/10/2024 → 10/10/2025
Research
IAA: End of Renewable Asset Life Decisions II (ERALD - II)
10/09/2024 → 09/07/2025
Research
E3: End of Renewable Asset Life Decisions (ERALD)
10/05/2024 → 30/11/2024
Research
Interdisciplinary Catalyst Funding - Innovative Laser Additive Manufacturing for Salvaged Construction Parts Repair
01/02/2024 → 31/07/2024
Research
IAA | Building a Circular Future: Accelerate Material Re-Use in Construction
01/08/2023 → 31/07/2024
Research
Material Passports Data
01/04/2023 → 31/07/2023
Research
Accelerating Material Re-Use in Construction (AMRUC)
30/01/2023 → 29/01/2024
Research
TEA Talks | Festival of Social Sciences | ESRC
01/09/2022 → 30/11/2022
Research
IAA - AHRC Impact Acceleration Account
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2026
Research
Architecture and Global Issues
01/08/2021 → 30/06/2022
Other
Spaces and Tools for learning during Covid-19 Pandemic
01/09/2020 → 01/10/2021
Research
Consultancy in Learning and Teaching Spaces
01/09/2018 → 31/07/2019
Consultancy
What Learning Spaces do we need?
Expert Opinion
BSI Committee Member
Influence on Policy, Practice, Patients & the Public
Committee member of European Committee for Standardisation
Influence on Policy, Practice, Patients & the Public
Estates Committee (Event)
Membership of committee
Webinar | Materials Passports Policy Paper
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
End of of Renewable Asset Life
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
RECONMATIC Open Day
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Campus in the City 2024
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Economia Circular
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Imagination Now & Next at the Festival of Futures
Symposium
The future is a work in progress Exhibition at the Festival of Futures
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Reuse Now Webinar: Material Passports
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
TEA talks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
How to Educate Architecture Students to Tackle Climate Emergency?
Invited talk
Future Observatory: Low Carbon Housing round table
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
AI Futures
Symposium
Material Reuse in Home Retrofit
Invited talk
Material Passports Data
Participation in conference - Business/Professional
Edge Education Review
Expert Opinion
Towards an Architectural Theory for Sustainability
Participation in conference - Academic
FOOTPRINT Plus
Participation in conference - Business/Professional
Student TEA talks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
TEA Talks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
School Engagement
Lancaster and Morecambe College
School Engagement
TEA Talks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Architecture Inspired by Nature
Invited talk
Lancaster COP26 Festival
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
TEA talks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Entangled Festival | Ensemble Project
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Entangled Festival | Ensemble Project
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
World Architecture Day | Poster Competition Winner 2018
Prize (including medals and awards)
Nominated by RIBA, UK for the UIA Global Cubes Awards 2020
Prize (including medals and awards)
FASS Dean Award 2022: Outstanding Contribution to Student Recruitment, Lancaster University
Prize (including medals and awards)
Best Tutor to Cry to (2021/22)
Prize (including medals and awards)
Best Tutor to Cry to (2022/23)
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Evaluation
- School of Architecture
- Space & Place