about
story
"Motivated by the destruction of biodiversity and the neglect of vernacular architecture, the Foundation shaped DaST as a guiding framework for addressing these urgent challenges. This vision is grounded in the belief that cultural and environmental landscapes must be preserved not only for their historical significance but also to support a sustainable future."
The sustainable development model that informs DaST emerged from reflections that began nearly fifty years ago. It grew from a critical understanding of how short term profit driven systems contribute to the degradation of natural and cultural resources. This awareness ignited a long term commitment to sustainability and to the protection of landscapes and communities at risk.
Motivated by the loss of biodiversity, including the disappearance of species such as bees, frogs and dragonflies, as well as by the growing neglect of vernacular architecture, the Foundation shaped DaST as a guiding compass for addressing these challenges. This vision is grounded in the belief that cultural and environmental landscapes must be preserved not only for their historical significance but also to secure a sustainable and resilient future.
Through its projects, the Foundation works to promote thermodynamic balance and to rethink how we live, build and develop in harmony with nature, safeguarding the beauty and resources of the planet for future generations.
At the heart of the Foundation’s approach is interdisciplinary collaboration, grounded in the understanding that although modern specialisation has advanced knowledge, it has also distanced us from the interconnected whole. Inspired by a holistic perspective that recognises the ripple effect of every action, the Foundation embraces an integrated way of thinking that values balance, interdependence and the continuous harmony between people, nature and place.
The Foundation brings together experts from diverse fields to restore landscapes, conserve vernacular architecture and develop models of sustainable living.
This philosophy is reflected in the Foundation’s current vision for Torrão, a small Portuguese village facing population decline and the gradual loss of its heritage. Torrão mirrors many communities around the world that are experiencing the realities of post growth economics, a phase in which the emphasis shifts from constant expansion to sustainable and regenerative practices.
Over the next five to ten years, the Foundation aims to revitalise Torrão by integrating its rich cultural heritage with innovative sustainability models that can serve as case studies for similar communities worldwide. The project is being developed in close collaboration with universities, non governmental organisations, the local community of Torrão and Convento da Terra, the cultural framework privately financed to support arts and culture initiatives and programmes.
purpose
The Foundation is committed to ensuring that unique places like Torrão are not only preserved but strengthened. With a clear focus on supporting the cultural and natural landscape while fostering local community development, the Foundation promotes action through collaboration, awareness and creative solutions.
vision
The Foundation envisions a world where unique natural and cultural places exist in harmony with the communities that inhabit them, allowing both to grow and thrive together. In this future, communities prosper within a post growth global economy where natural and cultural assets are recognised, valued and responsibly used. Biological and cultural diversity are upheld as essential foundations that strengthen community resilience and openness. Education nurtures and empowers the next generation to carry this vision forward, building a lasting legacy of stewardship, growth and balanced coexistence for all.
mission
Through its projects, the Foundation restores and safeguards natural and cultural landscapes in Portugal and around the world, including the village of Torrão. This work is rooted in collaboration, thoughtful design and community awareness so that local communities can strengthen and care for their cultural and natural heritage.
a sustainable tomorrow in our eyes
"Economies that prioritise the wellbeing of people and nature, supported by accounting systems that recognise the value of social and natural capital. Places and communities around the world strengthened by economic and cultural resilience. Education that inspires and empowers the next generation with the awareness and capability to continue designing a sustainable tomorrow."
Our work focuses primarily on the following topics
The Foundation believes that the value of an economy should centre on the wellbeing of people and the natural environment. This perspective calls for a critical evaluation of economic growth within current accounting systems, asking what is growing and at what cost. The prevailing growth driven model is understood as unsustainable, with long term consequences for nations and ecosystems alike. Over the past seventy years, the relentless pursuit of expansion has resulted in diminishing returns and increasing dependence on borrowed resources, placing both present and future generations at risk.
A more sustainable economic model requires a fundamental shift in accounting practices, one that recognises the intrinsic value of cultural and natural capital and integrates this value into decision making at every level. By promoting a holistic approach to valuation that aligns with thermodynamic principles, the Foundation seeks to emphasise the importance of protecting and strengthening these essential assets for the benefit of current and future generations.
The Foundation continues to explore the relationship between past and present, recognising that communities exist within a continuous flow of time rather than in isolated chronological moments. This understanding shapes our approach to sustainability and development.
The Foundation challenges both extremes: neither dismissing the past as irrelevant nor venerating all historical practices without critical reflection. Instead, our research focuses on the thoughtful integration of heritage into contemporary life, examining how traditional knowledge and practices can meaningfully contribute to a sustainable tomorrow.
Our investigations encompass diverse dimensions of cultural heritage, including traditional crafts and festivals that embody generational wisdom, vernacular agricultural practices that evolved in harmony with local ecosystems and indigenous architectural solutions that demonstrate sophisticated environmental adaptation.
Rather than relegating traditional practices to static demonstrations or artificial recreations, the Foundation studies how historical knowledge can be woven into the fabric of modern living. This approach requires particular intellectual humility, as vernacular methods often contain complex knowledge systems that extend beyond the limits of contemporary scientific frameworks.
The Foundation recognises that cultural diversity and biodiversity are closely interconnected, each essential to the resilience of the other. Our research explores how preserving and strengthening place identity serves as a cornerstone for maintaining both of these vital forms of diversity.
We examine how distinct local identities contribute to the natural, cultural and economic resilience of communities. This work challenges the homogenising effects of global consumerism that have gradually eroded the unique character of places around the world.
Our research also highlights an important paradox: although a place’s identity is deeply rooted in its local context, people often appreciate its distinctive qualities more clearly through the perspectives of visitors. This interplay between local and external viewpoints enriches the understanding of place identity.
Central to our approach is the recognition that maintaining place identity is not about freezing communities in time or promoting isolation. True resilience emerges from a place’s ability to remain open and adaptable while preserving its essential character. Much like a healthy ecosystem, a resilient local identity evolves and transforms while maintaining its core attributes.
Our regeneration effort aims to:
- strengthen distinctive local characteristics while remaining open to positive change
- build economic resilience through unique local assets and traditions
- foster environmental stewardship grounded in local cultural values
cultivate cultural - exchange that enriches rather than diminishes local identity.
The profound disconnection between people and land has become one of the most urgent sustainability challenges of our time. This separation extends beyond urban contexts and reaches into the core of modern agriculture, where industrial farming practices often reflect a misunderstanding of land as a living system.
Our research examines how this detachment appears in factory farming and industrial agriculture, practices that demonstrate neither awareness of the land’s intrinsic value nor respect for its ecological processes. At the same time, we explore how the built environment, including architecture and urban planning, can remain in harmony with the landscape. This is not a challenge of the distant future. The effects are already visible in declining soil health, reduced biodiversity and compromised ecosystem services, all of which directly influence human wellbeing.
The Foundation recognises that this crisis affects both present and future generations, challenging the very basis of human wellbeing. There can be no sustainable tomorrow without addressing our relationship with land today. Through our research, we explore pathways to rebuild this essential connection through:
- restoration projects that heal damaged landscapes while rebuilding human relationships with land
- regenerative practices that strengthen rather than deplete natural systems
- educational initiatives that cultivate a deep understanding of land as a living system
- documentation and promotion of traditional land stewardship practices
- new models for land conscious agriculture, architecture and urban planning
Our work emphasises that reconnecting with land is not simply a matter of conservation or improved techniques. It requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive and interact with the living systems that sustain us.
Art holds a unique capacity to transform how we see, understand and reimagine the world. Within our sustainability initiatives, artistic practice serves as both a lens and a bridge, helping communities gain new perspectives while fostering meaningful connections across cultural boundaries.
Through our artist residency programmes, creative workshops and integrated arts projects, we harness the transformative potential of artistic expression to:
- enable local communities to rediscover the beauty and significance of their place
- capture and communicate the spirit of sustainability projects in ways that go beyond traditional forms of documentation
- create dialogue and connection between people from diverse cultural backgrounds
- bring hope and renewed energy to the process of sustainable development
Our research explores how artistic practice offers distinct ways to observe, question, express and share ideas about sustainability. Unlike conventional approaches, art engages both emotion and intellect, allowing for deeper understanding and more meaningful transformation.
The Foundation recognises that the creative process itself generates energy and optimism, which are essential for sustained community engagement in environmental and cultural stewardship. Through art, abstract concepts become tangible, complex ideas become accessible and shared visions for the future become possible.
Education is a cornerstone of sustainable development, as the future inevitably rests in the hands of those who will shape it. Our approach moves beyond traditional academic models by transforming sustainability projects into living classrooms where the next generation can engage directly with real world challenges and solutions.
These experiential learning environments serve a purpose that extends far beyond practical training. They become spaces where students cultivate:
- professional competence in their chosen fields
- self awareness and personal confidence
- respect for diverse perspectives and traditions
- cross cultural understanding and communication skills
Our research and educational initiatives recognise that true education is rooted in building sustainable relationships, with people, with heritage and with the natural world. This holistic approach prepares individuals not only to navigate present challenges but to actively contribute to a more sustainable future.
By integrating students into real world sustainability projects, we create opportunities for them to:
- experience how theoretical knowledge is applied in practice
- gain first hand understanding of the complexities of sustainable development
- develop the emotional intelligence required for effective leadership
- build meaningful connections across cultural and disciplinary boundaries
- cultivate the wisdom necessary for responsible stewardship
Below, the video of the making of “When West meets the Orient” theme. A landscape pulse from the Palacio Belmonte, by Philippe Fournier and Guo Qian, on the 31st of July 2011 in the Belmonte Cultural Club, Lisbon, Portugal.
focus
"To achieve these objectives, we focus on the conservation and restoration of historic buildings and of urban and natural landscapes. We work to preserve and celebrate local arts and crafts, to empower and revitalise the local community through a post growth economic approach and to promote research workshops and experimental projects. We also curate responsible learning and leisure experiences for both local and international students and cultural travellers."
guiding principles
Working across diverse groups to achieve effective conservation.
Applying creative solutions for sustainable landscape management.
Equipping individuals and communities with the knowledge and tools to drive positive change.
Adapting to environmental change while fostering long term sustainability.
Strengthening understanding of ecological and conservation challenges.
Using artistic expression to deepen appreciation of landscapes and the significance of nature.
Engaging communities and the arts to protect natural and cultural heritage and to foster a shared sense of responsibility for conservation.
key areas of intervention
Conduct field research on ecosystems, cultures and conservation techniques, and share knowledge and innovations across wider regions.
Oversee and implement strategies and practices that safeguard natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
Develop and implement climate resilience strategies and mitigation efforts.
Engage communities broadly, create green economic opportunities and ensure meaningful local involvement in conservation efforts.
Develop and manage comprehensive educational programmes and raise public awareness on conservation and sustainability.
Oversee infrastructure development with a focus on sustainability and cultural sensitivity, ensuring that all projects align with conservation goals.
Collaborate with diverse groups and organisations, including universities and non governmental organisations, to research and promote sustainable development, and to build and maintain relationships with local communities, institutions, governments and international partners.
Regularly assess the effectiveness of projects, gather feedback and document and share progress and outcomes.
Secure resources and build partnerships that sustain and expand conservation efforts.