Studied his first year of architecture in the city of Valparaíso in his natal Chile, and in 2004 obtained his Bachelor in Architecture from the School of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Cum Laude. Is co-founder of the collective CIUDADLAB. Currently he is Auxiliary Professor (on leave) of design studio, research and representation in ArqPoli, where he as well directed and organized the 2009-2010 Lectures Series Sense Recession: What Comes Next?. At ArqPoli he also directed the Roundtable Series for four years to address critically the implications of contemporary architectural practices and since 2009 is co-editor of ArqPoli’s journal Polimorfo, which he also co-founded. From 1999 to present, has collaborated in various architectural firms in Puerto Rico, obtaining various awards for the work realized, he’s now searching for independent work through research and alternatives practices in architecture. He is a 2013 candidate to the Master in Science in Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices in Architecture of Columbia University in New York City.
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR), San Juan, PR, US, Auxiliary Professor
Teaching Experience
Recently Appointed Auxiliary Professor - School of Architecture, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico 2005-2011
Design Studio Instructor 2005-2011
Research Instructor CIUDADLAB (CITYLAB) www.ciudadlab.com 2005-Present
Representation instructor, 2006-2011
Teacher Assistant Architectural Theory 2005 -2007
Teacher Assistant History of Modern Architecture 2006-2007
Invited Juror for MArch Projects at University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture, 2010
Design Studios:
1st year: Architecture, Place and Context Studio (2005-present)
3rd year: Historic Preservation Studio (2007-2009)
4th year: Collective Housing Studio (2008-2010) 2008 Winter edition in collaboration with Architect Javier Sánchez in Mexico City 2009 Fall edition case studying housing in The Netherlands
Architectural Representation:
1st. year: First career course dedicated to understanding and learning of drawing and representation (2006-present)
Research / Vertical Studio Abroad (2nd - 5th years) CIUDADLAB
1st. version 2005: The Practice of Everyday San Juan
2nd. version 2007: Puerto Rico en Orlando: Research on the migration phenomena between Puerto Rico and Orlando, Florida.
3rd. version 2008 Utopia in Moscow: Research on the understanding of utopia in past and recent Moscow
4th. version 2009 Hong Kong: One Less Colony - Research proposed to outline the connections between Puerto Rico as colony of the U.S. and the former British colony (research not developed)
Toro Ferrer Arquitectos, Project Architect
Team architect for the Urban Design projects, San Juan Knowledge Corridor and Science City, in collaboration with Field Operations, New York, U.S.A. Project architect for the outdoor Guanacastes Amphitheater in the Río Piedras Botanicals Gardens Project architect for the New Visitors Center for the Luis Muñoz Marín Foundation Project architect for a private residence in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico All projects developed from conceptual design to construction documents and contract administration.
www.toroferrer.com
Columbia University, Masters, Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices in Architecture
Current Writings at GSAPP:
Reflecting Absence: Symbolism, Abstraction and the Un-politics in the Surface of the 9/11 Memorial.
Audience and Discourse: OPEN PLAN in the Context of the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York, 1977-1980.
The Architect’s Political Construct: Tracing Bernard Tschumi’s Ideological Genealogy (a reading of The Environmental Trigger)
Four Stages in the Life of the Twin Towers: An Enquiry of Time in Edmund Burke's Notion of the Sublime
The Architect's Political Mind: A Theoretical Construction of the Insurgent Architect
Co-Curator/Organizer:
Interpretations: Promiscuous Encounters (Seminars on Critical, Curatorial and Conceptual Practices of Architecture - www.arch.columbia.edu/cccp-pe)
Various Design Awards, Award
Honor Mention, XI Architecture Biennale, Unbuilt Projects for the New Emblematic Fence of the Río Piedras Botanicals Garden 2008. Team architect for Toro Ferrer Arquitectos.
Honor Mention, American Institute of Architects Puerto Rico Chapter, Unbuilt Projects for the New Emblematic Fence of the Río Piedras Botanicals Garden 2008. Team architect for Toro Ferrer Arquitectos.
Honor Award, American Institute of Architects Puerto Rico Chapter, Unbuilt Projects for the New Visitors Center for the Luis Muñoz Marín Foundation, 2008. Project architect for Toro Ferrer Arquitectos.
Honor Mention, X Architecture Biennale, Unbuilt Projects for the New Visitors Center for the Luis Muñoz Marín Foundation, 2008. Project architect for Toro Ferrer Arquitectos.
Honor Mention, American Institute of Architects Puerto Rico Chapter, Publication/Investigation Category for the online version of Onomatopeya Urbana journal www.onourb.com, 2004.
Honor Mention, Design Competition for the Annex to the Colegio de Arquitectos de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Architect’s Association) (Architect Istra Hernández team leader) 2003.
Honor Mention, American Institute of Architects Puerto Rico Chapter, Historical Documentation Fernández Garzot Residence, Naguabo, Puerto Rico, 1998
