Prof. Santos’ career combines professional practice, research, and teaching. Alone and with associates in South Africa, Philadelphia and San Francisco, Santos has been in private practice for more than forty years. She won numerous international design competitions, citations and awards. Following a holistic approach her work is concerned with the creation of social and contextual responsible design. The built environment, she upholds, should satisfy not only functional requirements but also the human spirit. Her work comprises varied typologies and scales in diverse social-economic groups, cultures and countries. Santos regards her practice as research based and is especially concerned with dwelling units.