In 1967, the University Reform process began in the country, and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, which would play a crucial role, elected Fernando Castillo Velasco, a professor from the Faculty of Architecture, as its rector. With conviction and leadership, the rector steered this process, which was vital to initiating a true transformation of the university and, combined with the work of the following decades, paved the way for the institution we know today.
This book compiles his words, scattered across speeches, interviews, columns, manifestos, and prologues over more than forty years. Organized chronologically around three major spheres of his work—"architecture," "university," and "politics"—they reflect his way of understanding and acting in the world. A multifaceted figure—architect, professor, rector, and mayor, to name a few of his roles—he sought to unite individual wills to realize common projects, transcending differences. Consequently, he strove to create spaces that fostered coexistence and dialogue within a participatory community.
Despite the passage of time, many of the topics addressed by Fernando Castillo remain relevant, and his words allow us to revisit our country's recent history. These pages invite us to reflect on our present: the social role of the university, equity in access, the responsibilities of citizens and leaders, urban planning policies, and city development, among other subjects.
