Most committed architecture students will agree that as the years of learning go by, a growing urge arises to speak up, express ourselves, and mobilize in different ways to bring the architecture we study in school to life. This spark is further ignited in a country where development is largely controlled by private interests rather than public ones, and where, above all, deep inequality persists amidst vast potential diversity. Outraged, our voices are increasingly being heard as citizens. We are stepping out of the classroom, seeking dialogue, marching more frequently, and carving out new paths to intervene in and transform our social reality. And we realize, or rather, we return to the natural understanding of our political role within architecture.
Therefore, let us answer the call and recognize the need for this gathering. The Colectivo Esteras together with the Centro Federado and the FAU PUCP, are organizing the 1st CONFRONTACIONES Architecture Student Colloquium. Its central theme will be the relationship between Architecture and Politics. Esteras is a multidisciplinary group born in the classrooms of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, organizing various activities to reflect on architecture and urbanism. This is one of their first large-scale student events, joining forces with allies like the Union of Architecture Students of Lima (UDEAL). Our platform, ArchDaily, will also be part of this event because, as they rightly say: together, we seek not only to disseminate but to produce knowledge.
As an academic discussion space, the Colloquium seeks to foster debate surrounding architectural practice and thought. It aims to present the perspectives of both professionals and students on cross-cutting themes in architecture, urban planning, and politics. For this edition, three main thematic areas have been chosen: Citizenship and Participation, Academia and Public Policy, and Women and the City. The main event will take place over two days, Thursday, October 25, and Friday, October 26.
IDEAS ON THE TABLE - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
[ 12:00 PM ]
Opening of the PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION “Lima, the city above, the city below”
+ Eleazar Cuadros
Founding member of CITIO Ciudad Transdisciplinar (2008–2015). Self-taught photographer, workshop leader, speaker, and juror for various national and international urban photography events. Winner of photography competitions such as Lima Foto Libre (2012). Creator of the blog Presbicia del Andar (since 2013), which explores urban readings and city imaginaries through photography.
[ 7:00 PM ]
LECTURE "Production of Public Space in the Popular City"
+ Javier Vera Cubas
Associate founder of C.C.C. — Coordinadora de la Ciudad (en Construcción) — since 2016, CITIO (Ciudad Transdisciplinar) from 2008 to 2015, and N.N. Arkitektos since 2003. Speaker, workshop leader, and exhibitor in architecture, urbanism, art, education, and cultural management events across Peru and abroad. Writer for various print and digital media on related topics. Winner, with the Urban95 Program, of the 5th CAF Urban Development and Social Inclusion Contest (2018), which integrates and synthesizes the three thematic axes of this colloquium: public policy, participation and citizenship, and the relationship between women and the neighborhood, among other themes.
DISCUSSION PANELS - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
[ Starting at 1:00 PM ]
GUEST GROUPS: +Centro Tierra +CIAC PUCP
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS exhibition of research projects.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS Three thematic axes, three paths forward:
PANEL 1: ACADEMIA AND PUBLIC POLICY
+ Ernesto Arias
Architect from PUCP, with a Master's in International Business Administration from ESAN and Florida International University. He has worked in various architecture firms and taught at PUCP Architecture. He is currently the Head of Educational Spaces in the General Directorate of Regular Basic Education at the Ministry of Education.
PANEL 2: PARTICIPATION AND CITIZENSHIP
+ Marta Maccaglia
Architect from the Sapienza University of Rome. Since 2011, she has worked on international cooperation projects in Peru, collaborating with various NGOs. Since 2013, she has worked on school projects in the Peruvian Amazon, including the Chuquibambilla Secondary School, which won second prize worldwide in Social Habitat and Development at the 2014 Quito Biennial. In 2014, she founded the non-profit association “Semillas,” where she currently serves as director.
PANEL 3: WOMEN AND THE CITY
+ Paula Villar
Architect from the University of Alicante, Spain. She completed additional studies at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon and the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Field coordinator for the University Cooperation for Development Projects of the University of Alicante within the framework of the Fitekantropus Project in the La Balanza neighborhood of Lima from 2015 to 2018. She has promoted and organized the Women and Neighborhood Forum since its first edition in 2017, which highlights the struggles of women and their contributions to city-making.
The stage is set. Architecture students, let's take advantage of this opportunity to gather and discuss these vital issues for social coexistence in the city. Being in the role of learners does not make us outsiders; it is not a reason for passivity. This event signals that, right from the classroom, students can actively produce valuable knowledge and participate in discussions of civic magnitude.
Registration link (for external attendees and the PUCP community):
https://goo.gl/forms/L5Yrzm9O68W5uNoP2
This article was written by Delia Bayona. The translation is powered by AI.
