Teaching Empathy: New Approaches to Architecture Education in Latin America

"Historically, the first universities in the contemporary model were established in Europe to educate elites for the State and the Church, rather than to promote social emancipation. With the rise of capitalism, they became privileged centers for producing and reproducing modern Western culture. However, from the 1960s onward-particularly after the student uprisings of May 1968-the academic focus shifted toward market-oriented values, displacing humanist and critical ideals."

"In the era of neoliberal globalization, this trend intensified. In Latin America, many architecture and urbanism programs aligned more closely with capital interests than with social needs, prioritizing standardized, abstract solutions over local realities. Yet this is not universal: new initiatives are emerging to challenge this model, particularly in response to twenty-first-century challenges such as the climate crisis, urban inequality, and the urgent need for sustainable, inclusive practices."

"Architectural education worldwide faces significant challenges amid rapid social, environmental, and cultural change. While the world evolves, many classrooms remain tied to traditional models that focus almost exclusively on technical and aesthetic concerns, keeping the profession distant from society's real needs. This approach reflects the legacy of modernism, which emphasizes form and positions architectural design at the center of professional practice, often at the expense of experimentation and hands-on experience."

University models originally trained elites for State and Church, later becoming centers for producing modern Western culture under capitalism. From the 1960s onward academic priorities shifted toward market-oriented values, sidelining humanist and critical disciplines and elevating technical fields. Neoliberal globalization intensified market alignment, especially in Latin America where many architecture and urbanism programs prioritized capital-friendly, standardized solutions over local, social, and environmental realities. Emerging initiatives push alternative curricula that emphasize social responsibility, sustainability, hands-on experimentation, interdisciplinarity, and engagement with community needs. Architectural education must integrate critical thinking, creative practice, and contextual responsiveness to address climate change, urban inequality, and inclusive development.

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