Marcelo Giannetti da Fonseca

Brazilian architect and sustainability pioneer who transformed green building practices

Marcelo Giannetti da Fonseca (born March 15, 1968) is a Brazilian architect renowned for his pioneering work in sustainable architecture. A graduate of the University of São Paulo, he co-founded CET - Centro de Estudos da Terra in 1993 to promote eco-friendly construction practices. His book 《Building a Sustainable Future》 became a seminal text in Latin American architecture.

Da Fonseca's designs incorporate passive cooling systems, renewable energy integration, and recycled materials. The Palácio da Alvorada renovation (2005) reduced energy consumption by 40% using his innovations. His Green Building Institute has certified over 2,000 projects across South America.

In 2010, he led the construction of the Bahia Solar Park, the largest solar-powered residential complex in Latin America. His TED Talk 'Architecture as a Climate Solution' has 600,000+ views on TED.com.

Documentaries like 《Green Horizons》 (2018) highlight his work. Da Fonseca advises the UN Environment Programme and has been featured in Architectural Digest. His approach blends traditional building techniques with modern sustainability principles, influencing global green building standards.