This article by Carmen Espegel was originally published in the 16th issue of revista rita under the title "Alegato pedagógico en Talca" (A Pedagogical Plea in Talca). The following text explores the unique approach to teaching design studios at the School of Architecture of the University of Talca (Chile), where territory, materiality, and the social sphere converge in a constructive thought and action carried out by students in their own homes, aiming to critically reformulate how we dwell.
It seems reasonable to pause and reflect on architecture's actual capacity to address human-centric problems. This demands a less festive architecture, one more focused on everyday behavior, on what we all experience, and on how—by improving places and creating more intense atmospheres—it refines and transforms our environment. In doing so, it should ideally transform us as well.
