Abstract:

Contemporary architecture faces global challenges related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and the preservation of cultural knowledge, requiring architectural education to adopt innovative methodologies capable of addressing complex future scenarios while maintaining strong cultural and social foundations. This study proposes the application of Foresight as a structured and transformative methodology in architectural education, integrating scientific training, sustainable practices, and the valorization of ancestral techniques, particularly ceramic-based traditions, to strengthen cultural identity and social responsibility in architectural practice.

The primary objective is to examine how integrating Foresight into architectural education cultivates prospective competencies in students, enabling the design of energy-efficient, sustainable, and culturally meaningful spaces while promoting responsible innovation and social transformation.

A mixed qualitative–quantitative approach was adopted through multiple case studies conducted in three undergraduate architecture programs. The educational intervention was implemented over two academic semesters through innovation modules embedded in architectural design studios. Foresight was operationalized using specific tools, including trend analysis, horizon scanning, participatory future scenario building, backcasting, and systems mapping, allowing students to anticipate future challenges and assess the long-term implications of architectural decision-making.

The methodology included participatory Foresight workshops, semi-structured interviews with faculty members and local artisans, and co-creation sessions aimed at integrating traditional ceramic knowledge into contemporary sustainable design proposals. Local artisans participated actively as knowledge holders and co-educators, contributing ancestral techniques, material expertise, and cultural narratives that enriched both the design process and reflections on sustainability, identity, and territory. Simulation dynamics and future scenario modeling were also employed to assess students’ capacities for strategic thinking, innovation, and cultural sensitivity.

Outcomes were evaluated through pre- and post-intervention questionnaires, rubric-based assessments of design projects, portfolio analysis, and qualitative content analysis of student reflections and interviews. Quantitative results show an average increase of 32% in students’ understanding of sustainability and energy efficiency principles, a 28% improvement in prospective competencies related to strategic thinking and scenario anticipation, and a 35% improvement in integrating sustainability criteria, cultural identity, and traditional materials. Qualitative findings indicate increased critical awareness of the relationship between architecture, territory, and culture, as well as a revalorization of ancestral knowledge. Overall, the findings confirm that Foresight is an effective educational approach for training architects who are capable of balancing technology, tradition, and social responsibility, thereby positioning future professionals as proactive agents of social and environmental change.

Keywords:

Educational innovation, ceramic knowledge, cultural transformation, inclusive education, sustainable architecture, Foresight, energy efficiency.