Visit of Louise Noelle Gras Gas to the School of Architecture at the Universidad Católica del Norte in Antofagasta

The School of Architecture at the Universidad Católica del Norte will host Mexican researcher and historian Louise Noelle Gras Gas from Monday, December 2, to Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

On Monday, December 2, Louise will be guided on a tour to explore the Atacama Desert and several examples of early 20th-century urban and architectural industrial heritage, such as the Baquedano railway settlement and the company towns of Chacabuco and María Elena.

On Tuesday, December 3, Louise will take part in a pedagogical exchange session showcasing the ongoing processes of several courses at the School of Architecture. These presentations will provide opportunities for discussions and feedback on themes and methodologies. The courses to be featured are: Taller 1: “Body and Space” led by Edison Segura Arias; Taller 6: “Architecture and Context” led by Gino Pérez Lancellotti; Taller 9: “Urban Design” led by Francisco Cooper; Taller 4: “Architecture and Material Resources” led by Carla Cáceres Collao; and the Course: “Architecture and Earth Technology” led by Sergio Alfaro Malatesta.

That same Tuesday at 6:00 PM, Louise will deliver a lecture titled “The Reconquest of Pedregal: Luis Barragán, Juan O’Gorman, and the Ciudad Universitaria” in the Ángela Schweitzer Extension Hall.

On Wednesday, December 4, during the morning session, Louise will attend presentations of thesis progress by students from the Master’s Program in Architecture in Arid Zones (MAZA). Directed by the program’s coordinator, Gino Pérez, this activity aims to foster debate on the theses.

Louise’s visit will conclude on Wednesday with a luncheon with faculty members in one of the School of Architecture’s courtyards.