"As architects we seek experiences that align with our way of perceiving, feeling and understanding architecture. Experiences that provide us with valuable knowledge and allow us to find sensitivity, inspiration and connection with new tools, methodologies and references to think and design architecture.
In this search, students from Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru embarked on a new path at the University of Navarra. Master's Degree in Architectural Theory and Design University of Navarra; a path full of learning in order to grow professionally and personally. Thanks to having taken a step in this direction, it is being possible to venture into architectural design and its theories and, today, it is a reality that challenges us but, at the same time, we are passionate about.
The first stop was Miami (at the end of September), a city known worldwide for its multicultural population, artistic and design connection, beautiful beaches, architecture and entertainment. On this occasion, thanks to the link between the University of Navarra and the University of Miami, we participated in the first edition of the Architectural Design Workshop, taught in Miami through an intensive two-week workshop. We lived a very enriching experience because we faced a real problem of the city in one of the most important subway and bus stations, since it is a sector where transportation, sea, museums, art schools and culture merge.
This Workshop of internship was directed by the American architect Edward Baum, who has had an admirable training and trajectory with undergraduate degrees and postgraduate program from Harvard. His example is worth adopting, as his professionalism and human qualities are unparalleled. Through constructive criticism, he and architects Victor Larripa, PhD from the University of Navarra and Adjunct Professor of this workshop, and Edgar Sarli, 4th year Project Workshop professor with programs of study of postgraduate program in Architecture and Urban Design at Harvard, managed to fill us with motivation and effort to enhance each project presented in the workshop, obtaining satisfactory results. In addition, we had the opportunity to share our skills and abilities with others, without being afraid to fail by having an important support to overcome the challenges that were presented.
Another advantage of this experience is that we are fortunate to be immersed in multiculturalism. Not only do we learn from the teachers, but also from the school of formation and the culture of each student. Also, we build knowledge from the reflection and analysis arising from the interactions with the context in each of the visited spaces such as the Design District, the urban and contemporary art areas, the PAMM museum, visits to different architectural works, the city and the university campus (which, by the way, is an impeccable place that provides a more than pleasant experience with its infrastructure and environment).
In addition to these important visits, the Workshop experience is complemented with other activities that add great value to the learning process. In our case, we shared with the students of 4th year of Architecture, conceiving different methodologies to those of our training, giving as result openness to novelty; and we did part of the sharing of knowledge with the lecture of the signature Barozzi Veiga, architectural design studio based in Barcelona where stands out its formidable trajectory with different projects in the world, which contributed much to our training and experience as architects.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Workshop in Miami undoubtedly provided us with great knowledge and valuable moments as it was such a wonderful and complete experience, it manages to promote and integrate the learning obtained, which aims to make us grow as architects, but also as human beings immersed in a global context for which more and more preparation is needed".
