Casa da Arquitectura Centro Português de Arquitectura

SHIFT 2025: THE POSITIVE TURN
Materials, Buildings and Cities for a Regenerative Future

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The Casa da Arquitectura – Portuguese Centre for Architecture, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, is promoting the third edition of the SHIFT International Seminar – The Positive Turn, which will take place between 25 and 27 September 2025, in Matosinhos.

Are we ready to think and build a world that gives back more than it consumes?

Stay tuned for the program to be announced soon.

We are moving beyond minimizing harm toward a new paradigm — where buildings, materials, and cities actively restore ecosystems, absorb carbon, and generate positive energy.

The construction industry sits at the heart of both the crisis and the solution. Responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, it must undergo a radical transformation.

The goal is no longer to mitigate or compensate, but to improve conditions — creating structures and urban environments that contribute to the planet’s health rather than depleting it.

This event brings together leading architects and researchers to explore the Positive Shift needed to shape a regenerative future at every scale.

The conference is structured around three thematic sections:

Materials

The shift toward regenerative construction begins with materials. Bio-based, carbon-storing, and reclaimed resources — moving through a circular economy— can transform the industry from extractive to restorative. Innovation meets responsibility in what we choose to build with.

Buildings

Architecture must evolve from minimizing harm to generating benefits. Buildings can produce energy, support ecosystems, and embody environmental repair. This demands a new design culture — one that learns from both advanced technologies and vernacular wisdom.

Cities

Regenerative cities are not just sustainable — they restore. Through bold design and systemic policy, urban spaces can reverse emissions, regenerate nature, and foster equity. The city becomes a living framework for planetary recovery.

In addition to the symposium sessions, the event includes a curated programme of site visits and hands-on training activities.

Positive Shift is thus more than a conference — it’s a call to action.