Genius Loci: Useful Utopia or Real Need? Rules of Technological Design

The design revolution is a utopia, but the revolution does not come only from the use of new technologies, but also from the affirmation of new behaviours. The "environmental friendly behaviour" is both a real need and a competitive advantage. This contribute shows the most environmentally conscious method to take on technological design. Through this work, it is proved how a careful analytical phase on the local context (indeed traditional use and material) is able to orient design choices in order to obtain maximization of energy performances and preservation of Genius Loci. The Municipality of Ponte de Lima offered an opportunity issuing an announcement for the realization of a Research Laboratory for the UFP of Oporto. This work aims at the retrofit of a neglected school area: evaluations of the direct survey of cultural and environmental characteristics and digital elaborations define the concept design.