On Learning
Research / Exhibition
A Naïve and Intuitive Approach to Pedagogy, was conducted as an independent project during the summer and fall of 2024. It consisted of an interview series, followed by exhibitions displaying the work and transcripts from the interviews as a work in progress. The series began as an attempt to develop a language more accessible to architecture students in their early stages while exploring the broader implications of teaching locally and internationally. It raises critical questions: How do diversity and cultural backgrounds influence pedagogy? How can diverse voices challenge entrenched paradigms and canons while remaining relevant in a global narrative? This is especially pertinent in an era of increasing connectivity, with democratic and accessible platforms reaching beyond traditional architectural critics.
Conversations with:
Rui Filipe Pinto
(Studiolo)
Lap Chi Kwong & Alison Von Glinow
(Kwong Von Glinow)
Thomas Padmanabhan
(Lütjens Padmanabhan Architekt*innen)
Fernanda Canales
Camilo Restrepo
(Agenda Agencia de Arquitectura)
Elizabeth Christoforetti
(Supernormal)
Charlotte Malterre-Barthes
Wonne Ickx
(PRODUCTORA)
Enrique Walker
Team:
Ernesto Carvajal
Sarah Lahmadi
Nate Tavares
Noise
Exhibition Proposal
Climate stability has historically underpinned civilization, yet its instability has triggered societal collapses, as seen with the Maya and Tiwanaku. Today, human-driven climate change accelerates this uncertainty, with rising temperatures and extreme weather events pushing ecosystems and societies toward tipping points. In Latin America, water reveals the fragility of these systems, underscoring the urgency to address its undervaluation and mismanagement. This project explores the critical role of water in navigating the deep uncertainty of climate change, emphasizing the need for resilient and adaptive strategies in the face of looming thresholds.
Team:
Ernesto Carvajal
Nicolas Fernandez
Homero Paltan
Color
Research
This research investigates the interaction of color and shape, examining how colors influence one another and how forms emerge through these relationships. Drawing from Josef Albers' color studies, the project explores how shifts in hue, saturation, and contrast create perceptual effects, altering spatial and emotional readings. Additionally, it considers how shape acts as a mediator in these interactions, framing and directing the way colors are experienced. This study is an intuitive investigation, allowing for discovery through experimentation, where color becomes both the subject and the method of inquiry. Through digital media, the work seeks to uncover how abstraction can evoke structure, depth, and emotion within the interplay of color.
Veritas Repository
Academic
The profound influence of truth cannot be quantified. Over time, truth’s definition has often been shaped by those in positions of authority. Singular viewpoints cannot capture the entirety of truth; a comprehensive understanding demands amplification of all affected voices. In the case of Harvard University, an institution that upholds truth as a guiding principle, it becomes imperative to establish an environment fostering the examination of diverse truths.
The Veritas Repository stands as a dedicated space for the pursuit of truth’s exploration. In recognition of the complexity of truth, this repository serves as a sanctuary for multiple perspectives to converge. Through dynamic avenues such as dialogue, scholarly inquiry, artistic performance, and public exhibition, previously marginalized aspects of truth can emerge from obscurity.
Harvard’s commitment to unearthing multifaceted truths reinforces its role as an intellectual nucleus. The Veritas Repository’s role extends beyond a physical location; it embodies the institution’s dedication to the pursuit of knowledge in its entirety. By providing a platform for muted truths to surface, this initiative enriches the academic landscape and exemplifies the enduring significance of seeking truth from every vantage point.
At the core of this design philosophy lies the concept of offering a versatile canvas for exhibitions. To achieve this, the layout features open slabs that can adapt to various exhibition orientations, fostering creativity and adaptability. As visitors journey from the ground level upwards, they encounter a unique spatial arrangement: stairs emerging behind an offset circulation core, a deliberate design choice that maximizes the availability of open floor space, enabling seamless interactions. The overarching simplicity of the architectural design is intentional, ensuring that the spotlight remains on the content of the exhibitions themselves. It is a canvas that amplifies the diverse narratives and expressions within, creating a captivating environment for exploration and contemplation.
Harvard Graduate School of Design
Instructors:
Bryan Lee
Julian Bonder