We visited “Dogon Country” in Mali (latitude 15°N) in 2008 to observe how vernacular “Dogon” architecture (a UNESCO World Heritage site) has achieved the counter-form of lived experiences. We were looking for the coherence between society and dwelling through architecture and urbanism in another dimension and another culture.

Moving from a country with four distinct seasons to a tropical climate in 1973 was a transformative life experience; in the practice of architecture, it required adapting to a completely new reality. Engaging with the customs and habits of the life that welcomed us, alongside the vernacular architecture we encountered, signaled that our design methodology had to change in order to integrate this new world, with its unique climate and way of living. 

The book Sustainable Tropical Cities, published by the Institute of Tropical Architecture (San José, Costa Rica) in 2006, gathers the conclusions its authors compiled over years of observation and study. Bruno Stagno and Jimena Ugarte, both architects and immigrants enamored with the tropics, aimed to demonstrate the specific characteristics that cities located in the tropical belt possess—or should possess—while introducing an unprecedented topic.

Certification of sustainable buildings has become a prominent trend in architecture over the last couple of years and while most people can agree on the importance of sustainability in building, how to achieve it leaves copious room for discussion.

Bruno Stagno from San José, Costa Rica, shares his contemplations for a free expressive code for tropical architecture.