What Architects Can Learn from Leonardo da Vinci About Craft and Sustainability

Visiting Leonardo versus Michelangelo in Barcelona wasn’t a nostalgic look backwards. It was a reminder that many of the questions architects face today - about craft, performance, and responsibility - were already being asked over 500 years ago.

Leonardo da Vinci didn’t talk about sustainability. But his way of working shows us what it looks like in practice.

Visitors immersed in Leonardo da Vinci’s spatial thinking - a reminder that observation, craft and structure have always shaped meaningful architecture.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Foundations of Thoughtful Design

Leonardo didn’t see boundaries between disciplines. Art, engineering, anatomy, light, water, structure - all informed one another.

For architects today, especially those working across London and Barcelona, this integrated way of thinking feels increasingly relevant. Sustainable architecture is no longer about adding technology at the end. It’s about understanding systems from the very beginning.

Leonardo’s notebooks weren’t about style. They were about how things work.

Craft as a Route to Longevity

Leonardo believed that true beauty emerged from deep understanding of materials, forces, and human experience.

In architecture, craft works the same way:

• Materials are chosen for how they age, not how they photograph

• Details are resolved early, not improvised on site

• Construction is considered part of the design process, not separate from it

This approach leads to buildings that last longer, perform better, and require less energy over their lifetime — one of the most overlooked aspects of sustainability.

Observation Before Intervention

Leonardo spent years observing the world before proposing solutions. He drew water currents, studied shadows, dissected anatomy.

For architects, this is a vital reminder:

Sustainability begins with restraint.

Before adding complexity, we ask:

• What can be reused?

• What already works?

• Where is energy being lost unnecessarily?

In dense cities like London and Barcelona, this mindset naturally leads toward retrofit, adaptation, and working with existing buildings rather than defaulting to demolition and rebuild.

Integration Over Add-Ons

Leonardo didn’t bolt ideas together. His work was integrated.

Modern sustainable architecture works best the same way:

• Structure informs space

• Daylight shapes form

• Environmental performance influences layout

When sustainability is integrated, buildings feel calmer and more intuitive — not over-engineered or visually cluttered.

Drawing as a Tool for Thinking

Leonardo drew to understand, not to impress.

In an age of instant visuals and rapid outputs, this is a lesson worth relearning. Sketching, modelling, and iterating slowly often leads to:

• Better decisions

• Fewer mistakes on site

• Clearer communication with clients and builders

Craft isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about care.

Why Leonardo Still Matters to Architects Today

Leonardo da Vinci reminds us that sustainability isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset.

A mindset rooted in:

• Curiosity

• Observation

• Respect for materials

• Understanding before action

These principles matter whether you’re designing a low-energy home, adapting a historic building, or shaping new spaces in London, Barcelona, or beyond.

Carrying These Lessons Forward

At RISE Design Studio, we don’t look to historical figures for style. We look to them for method.

Leonardo’s legacy isn’t about masterpieces.

It’s about a way of working that values depth over speed and meaning over excess.

Good architecture has always been about using less, better.

Leonardo simply showed us how early that understanding began.

Designing With Intent

At RISE, we believe architecture isn’t about following trends or chasing novelty. It’s about crafting buildings that endure - thoughtful in their making, honest in their materials, and responsible in how they use energy and resources.

Leonardo da Vinci reminds us that great design comes from curiosity, observation, and care. From understanding before intervention. From seeing craft and sustainability not as add-ons, but as foundations.

If you’re thinking about a project that values depth over speed, performance over appearance, and longevity over excess, we’d love to talk.

→ Email us at architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ Or call the studio on 020 3947 5886

RISE Design Studio, Architects, Interior Designers + Sustainability Experts

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