During the first half of 2026, the CAVIAR Research Group continued to contribute to advances in knowledge in architecture, urban planning, sustainability and building refurbishment through five new scientific publications. These works address a wide range of topics, including public space quality, the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage, cultural landscapes, residential ventilation systems and the role of daylight in building regulations.
The Need to Review Daylighting Standards
Natural daylight plays a fundamental role in wellbeing, energy efficiency and the quality of the built environment. In the article Por qué deberíamos revisar nuestras normas de iluminación natural, published in Novoperfil, Jorge Otaegi de Arce and Iñigo Rodríguez Vidal reflect on the need to update the regulatory criteria governing daylight in buildings.
The article argues that current regulations should be adapted to today’s requirements for comfort, health and sustainability, helping to create buildings that are better prepared to meet future challenges.
Which ventilation system is most suitable for residential buildings?
Ensuring good indoor air quality is one of the key challenges facing contemporary building design. In the article Which Is the Most Suitable Ventilation System for Residential Buildings? Case Study in Northern Spain, Moisés Odriozola Maritorena, Joseba Gainza Barrencua, Ana Picallo Pérez, Zaloa Azkorra Larrinaga and Iñaki Gómez Arriaran compare different ventilation systems used in residential buildings in northern Spain.
The research evaluates their performance in terms of energy efficiency and occupant comfort, providing valuable insights for the design of healthier and more energy-efficient homes.
The cultural landscape of furniture-making in Azpeitia
ZURA-BIZIA – The Cultural Landscape of Furniture in Azpeitia (Basque Country), by Maitane Menayo Hurtado and Daniel Luengas Carreño, highlights the cultural and industrial heritage associated with the furniture-making tradition in Azpeitia.
The study documents the evolution of this cultural landscape and emphasises the importance of preserving the knowledge, memory and identity linked to an activity that has played a significant role in the area’s economic and social development.
Adaptive reuse of European industrial heritage
The adaptive reuse of disused industrial buildings offers an important opportunity to preserve heritage while promoting sustainable urban development. In Adaptive Reuse as Configuration Knowledge: Design Intelligence in Seven European Post-Industrial Trajectories, Djamil Ben Ghida, Izaskun Aseguinolaza Braga and Maialen Sagarna Aranburu analyse seven European case studies of post-industrial transformation.
The study identifies design strategies and transferable knowledge that can serve as valuable references for future refurbishment and adaptive reuse projects.
Public space quality between urban and rural contexts
In the article Entre lo urbano y lo rural: adaptación de los indicadores espaciales para la evaluación de la calidad del espacio público, Itziar Modrego Monforte, Mikel Barrena Herrán and Olatz Grijalba Aseguinolaza propose an adaptation of spatial indicators to assess public space quality in areas located between urban and rural environments.
The research introduces new analytical tools that help to better understand the characteristics and needs of these hybrid territories, supporting the planning and design of more inclusive and higher-quality public spaces.
Through these publications, the CAVIAR Research Group reaffirms its commitment to applied research that addresses some of the major challenges facing the built environment, including sustainability, heritage conservation, urban planning, energy efficiency and human wellbeing.
