In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States, and in honor of this, we are sharing a brief look at Latinx representation in architecture, and most importantly, celebrating our Latinx team members’ career paths and the richness they bring to our work and firm.
It is well established that the architecture profession in the U.S. is lacking in racial and ethnic diversity – but it is only in very recent years that the profession as a whole has really begun to acknowledge this, and reckon with what it means for the work we do. This 2020 report from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) examined Hispanic and Latinx representation in architecture through its series Where Are My People? – which looked at diversity in architecture education and the profession. We highly recommend reading this report in full, but here we’ll focus on just a highlight about representation.
The Numbers
The 2020 US Census reports that 18.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latinx. According to the ASCA report, enrollment of Hispanic/Latinx students in 4-year architecture programs is aligned with enrollment across all colleges and universities. But “Where the discipline sees a real disparity is in the percent of Hispanic/Latinx architecture faculty (8.7%) and professionals in the workforce (8.5%).”
Representation Matters
Why do these disparate levels of representation in the profession vs. the general population matter? One of the most glaring issues of an overwhelmingly white-dominant profession comes into play when we are engaging with communities. And for our firm in particular – as a Community Design practice – it’s an essential consideration. We work in service to a lot of Latinx and other immigrant communities, and when we have been able to engage with folks in their first language, perhaps even sharing some level of cultural familiarity, it has been transformative. It makes the engagement work more meaningful and ultimately more useful toward designing in culturally appropriate ways that meet people’s needs.
For these reasons and more, our Latinx staff – who come from vastly different places and backgrounds but share a language – create a richness in our work and our firm’s culture that is worth celebrating. Please enjoy learning a little bit more about our cohort of Latinx designers and architects!
Ernestina Fuenmayor, Venezuela
How and why did you choose architecture as a profession?
Both my mother and father were architects. My mother was a planner who worked in government agencies during her professional career and my father was a nationally recognized architect in Venezuela, who never stopped working. I grew up hearing about Carlos Raúl Villanueva, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Roberto Burle Marx, Marcel Breuer, and many other architects that were just common names to my ears. I loved watching construction sites and could spend hours observing construction workers building walls or fixing stuff in our houses.
My mother was a very hands-on person and I wanted to be like her. I grew up in a cacao hacienda from 1700s in Choroní, Venezuela, wondering how that house was still up after 300 years. I was curious about how buildings got put together and could last that long.
How has being educated and beginning your career outside of the U.S. created challenges in translating that experience to the practice of architecture here? How does your previous experience inform your current practice?
I learned to train my brain to not translate dimensions or unit systems. I learned what an inch means (I knew but it was just a reference), what was the standard of door sizes, lumber, etc are without relating them to the metric system. That was just the beginning of so many complicated ways to comprehend the differences in culture and systems between the U.S. and Venezuela. In Venezuela, the professional experience I had was very formal; your boss is called “architect” or “engineer” — not by their names or last names, and the level of respect and distance was higher than here. The formality of the names, including that you can be called Tina instead of Ernestina in the professional world was a big shock. Construction is also very different, not only in details and systems, but also in the processes including the specifications or project manual, which are documents that I never had heard of.
What advice would you give the next generation of Latinx architects and designers? What have you learned in your career?
Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t understand something. Don’t try to impress people around you, just be yourself. You would be surprise how we are all learning. Google is your best friend; however, asking how something works and why it is detailed that way will help you and everybody around you learn through the process. Find people and groups that help you speak the same language; it is hard already to learn a new construction system, measuring system, and also a language. We all need outlets.
Your opinion matters. You are as important as any English speaking person.
Is there anything about your Latinx culture that you feel really informs / shows up in your practice?
I am not sure if I can see that through my lens. People tend to be biased in how they see what I do and how I do it, because of my accent and my attitude, but I have been here already for 20 years, and my whole professional career has been developed here. Maybe in the fact that I like color and fun designs; I don’t like gray in buildings, because I like how the sun makes color pop and makes everyone happy.
Any Latinx architects, designers, or buildings that you are inspired by?
The work of Carlos Raúl Villanueva in the Universidad Central de Venezuela will always be my inspiration for spaces, colors, use of the landscape, sustainability, and arts. I became an architect within his buildings and I got to live and enjoy his work. I can only aspire to one day work on a project that can reflect those lessons.
Christian Téllez García, Mexico
How and why did you choose architecture as a profession?
Destiny. I went out one day as an electrical and mechanical engineering student and returned as an architecture student. I never thought about studying architecture until college, hanging out with architect friends. I got curious about the career, asked about the program, and received a call from the architecture principal asking if I would like to change my degree that day or wait a semester to try. So I decided to change that day and fell in love with being an architect.
How has being educated and beginning your career outside of the U.S. created challenges in translating that experience to the practice of architecture here? How does your previous experience inform your current practice?
The construction system and building code differences still are significant situations for me. My experience is built with different materials literally, and of course, the metric system is the cherry on top. However, some things don't change a lot; I got experience in interior design, so the space perception and concept application haven't changed, so I'm still applying all that knowledge all the time.
What advice would you give the next generation of Latinx architects and designers? What have you learned in your career?
My advice will be to stay curious and open to change; I have learned that multidisciplinary and multicultural profiles help you to understand diverse perspectives and give you the chance to have impact in many different ways. Being Latin gives you an instant connection with many vulnerable groups, so use that in your favor to raise their voices and don't compare yourself constantly with others. Remember, everyone has a different path and purpose.
Is there anything about your Latinx culture that you feel really informs / shows up in your practice?
I would say that I'm still learning a lot about my architecture practice in the United States. I'm still learning how to play the game, but I try to add to the projects I'm involved in — a silent voice to the spaces that echo with emotions and sensations. I would like to see buildings more like experiences than just places.
Any Latinx architects, designers, or buildings that you are inspired by?
I participated in a sustainable architecture program named VACA with the architect Juan Carlos Loyo and team in Mexico. I learned a lot through that experience — genuinely inspiring how you can dignify people's lives using vernacular techniques to improve rural and indigenous communities through architecture.
Alex Salazar, United States with Ecuadorian roots
How and why did you choose architecture as a profession?
From a young age my father, an immigrant doctor from Ecuador, encouraged my brothers and sister to become professionals like him. In middle school I discovered architectural drafting which I loved. And by high school I was lucky enough to live in Spain as an exchange student, getting to visit Barcelona and be inspired by seeing Gaudí's work first hand. This combination of things all influenced my career path.
What advice would you give the next generation of Latinx architects and designers? What have you learned in your career?
My general advice to the next generation is to follow what you are passionate about, and to connect who you are to the work you do. This can be in day to day practice if you are at a firm you enjoy, or through volunteer work with communities that you care about. There is so much change going on in the world at this moment which can be daunting, and also so much opportunity to have a positive impact.
Is there anything about your Latinx culture that you feel really informs / shows up in your practice?
The active use of outdoor space and courtyards figure prominently in my mind as particularly Latino/a/x, which one can see in Latin America and Spain. Outdoor space is an extension of the home in hot climates, and can be lively productive spaces for markets and agriculture processing. Our more recent buildings, such as Las Adelitas, Fourth Plain, and Elmonica, all have plazas and I see this influence showing up in how we have designed the space for multiple activities, incorporating art and in providing space for markets to occur.
Any Latinx architects, designers, or buildings that you are inspired by?
I think more than individual architects, I am inspired by vernacular streets in Latin America and elsewhere, where they become active places, with vibrant building colors, rich smells, and flourishes of architectural detail. I love walking through these 'naturally occurring' streets that capture the rich culture of everyday life.
Alejandra Madrinan, Colombia
How and why did you choose architecture as a profession?
I grew up on a farm in Colombia, with lots of time spent playing outdoors. One of my favorite activities was a game of pretending I was arriving in a new place with my family and community. As a family and community leader, I was always in charge of finding the plots of land to build on. This meant every time we settled somewhere we had to build a fort. All of the forts were built with local materials and they included interior finishes, vegetable gardens, and horse corrals. Once the forts were finished (in some cases this would be a whole day activity) and we enjoyed the place for a few minutes, we would leave in search of another piece of land where we could settle again and (for the most fun part of all) begin building another fort.
Both my father and my mother, who is an artist/painter, always supported this passion towards design and construction, by getting me books or taking me to places that would inspire me. And thanks to this support and my passion, I chose architecture as a profession.
How has being educated and beginning your career outside of the U.S. created challenges in translating that experience to the practice of architecture here? How does your previous experience inform your current practice?
Being educated and beginning my career in Colombia, and then choosing to live in the United States, has expanded my perspective toward other aspects of architecture. For instance, four seasons, building codes, materials, and all building systems that provide a comfortable living space are elements of architectural design I continue to learn. It is a challenge, but a challenge I cherish because, after all, practicing architecture in the U.S. enables me to continue evolving as a professional and an individual.
Any Latinx architects, designers, or buildings that you are inspired by?
One of my first experiences with sustainable architecture was a summer job I took with architect Jorge Ramirez, who specializes in bioclimatic architecture. Working alongside Jorge was an incredible experience. Not only did this work reinforce my interest in sustainable building design, but it raised my awareness for the highest purpose of architecture — to create, sustain, and inspire a positive impact on all living things, Nature and human society.
Erick Navarro, Peru & NYC
How and why did you choose architecture as a profession?
When I was a child, I remember getting a bucket of Legos for Christmas and spending hours building structures with my older brother. My other hobby was drawing from real life. I really enjoyed both activities and pretty much figured out that architecture would be a good fit.
What advice would you give the next generation of Latinx architects and designers? What have you learned in your career?
Find someone in the firm who can be a good mentor. In my opinion, there is no faster way to learn than working alongside someone who can guide you. Once you find a comfortable spot, ask for experience outside of your comfort zone. I feel that we all have our strengths and it’s easy to settle, but time passes quickly (along with opportunities) and it’s up to us to continue to grow professionally.
Listening and asking questions is probably one of the most important skills I've learned. Being honest with what you don't understand and asking follow-up questions is a great way to deliver what is expected of you. I have also learned that if you don't know something, just say so. It's better to come back with a good response that reflects your confidence and due diligence.
Any Latinx architects, designers, or buildings that you are inspired by?
When I started architecture school, I really liked the idea of designing skyscrapers and gravitated towards César Pelli. My favorite architect though is Shigeru Ban. I think his work in designing shelters made of cardboard for disaster victims is more in line with my sense of altruism.