Lara Camilla Pinho
  • The University of Western Australia (M433), 35 Stirling Highway,

    6009 Perth

    Australia

Personal profile

Research interests

Lara’s research interests are related to the effect of architectural interventions on living systems and local ecology, and how the impact of the built environment on these systems often causes imbalance. Lara is interested in how architecture can provide a platform for cultivating relations of reciprocity between species.

Lara’s research areas also include the use of local materials as potential bio-material resources. At UWA Lara is currently investigating the potentials of Typha domingensis as a construction material. Typha is a native species in Western Australia but thrives under high nutrient loads which often surge due to human activity thus enabling an invasive growth which can replace other ecologically valuable plant species. The abundance of Typha in Perth and its rapid growth characteristics make it a strong contender for use as a bio-based material.

Lara’s research areas also include the potential of design-research methods to add value to recycled plastics in collaboration with the University of Tasmania as well as investigating the potential of climate adaptive building materials.

Biography

Lara Camilla Pinho is an award-winning teacher and architect focused on sustainability and social impact. Through teaching, research and practice, Lara seeks to tackle real-world problems and current global issues using sustainable solutions that focus on vernacular construction, local resources and a more-than-human lens.

She studied at the Faculdade de Arquitectura - Universidade de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal) and École Nationale Superieure d’Architecture Paris-Belleville (Paris, France) and has lived in South Africa, Portugal, France and the Netherlands.

At UWA's School of Design, Lara is co-coordinator of the Social Impact Design focus area in the Master of Architecture program which focuses on design’s capacity for social change by offering a solid foundation in design that is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.  Students are exposed to the complex and global nature of issues found equally in the realms of economic development, community improvement and disaster relief. Lara has established the unit ‘Empowering Communities through Design’ which seeks to establish a best practice framework for understanding the field and the worth of design that serves all species.

Lara is also a co-founder and Principal Architect at blaanc borderless architecture and co-founded the non-profit humanitarian association Adobe for Women Association.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Education/Academic qualification

Architecture, University of Lisbon

External positions

Co-founder, Adobe for Women Association

20112016

Co-founder / Principal Architect, blaanc Borderless Architecture

2008 → …

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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