Juan Bugarin / Founder
“I founded Phronesis Lab to create sustainable building systems that respond to climate challenges with clarity and common sense.
The goal is to translate research and experimentation into solutions that support both mitigation and adaptation, without sacrificing design quality.”
Juan Gilberto Bugarin Castillo is an architectural designer based in Los Angeles, a LEED Green Associate, and the founder of Phronesis Lab, a sustainability-focused initiative developing low-carbon, regenerative building systems. He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Timber Design from IAAC and an Erasmus Mundus MSc in Sustainable Design, Construction, and Management of the Built Environment (The MBUILD), with a thesis on 3D Printed Earth Construction (3DPEC) at DIGI@FEUP3DC in Porto.
With over a decade of design experience, including teaching Ecodesign, Juan has contributed to architectural and research projects in the U.S., Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. His work focuses on circular economy strategies, prefabrication, timber systems, and additive manufacturing with natural materials such as soil, translating research-backed approaches into scalable solutions that support both climate mitigation and adaptation.
Abdishukri Rashid Aden / Co-Founder
Abdishukri is a sustainability-focused Civil Engineer and researcher with international experience in structural design, project management, and sustainable construction.
He holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Design, Construction, and Management of the Built Environment, delivered through the University of Porto, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, and University of Cantabria. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Urban Systems and Transportation Management from Istanbul Commerce University.
He has professional experience in structural engineering, project management, and business management. His work and research focus on sustainability in structures and buildings, particularly embodied carbon reduction, sustainable structural systems, BIM-based workflows, and data-driven design approaches.
He has contributed to multidisciplinary construction and infrastructure projects across international environments, while also engaging in academic research related to lightweight structures, 3D-printed composite structural systems, and sustainable urban development.
We are a global, dynamic network of collaborators united by our passion for sustainability.
Our architects, designers, and consultants come from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique expertise to the table. We believe that to mitigate climate change, we must set aside ego and share knowledge across disciplines, including economics, policy-making, and environmental science.
By assembling lean, specialized teams tailored to each project, we ensure every collaboration is efficient, innovative, and environmentally conscious.