Contemporary Latin American Architecture: Other Traditions

Not a typical overview of Latin American Architecture, the book uncovers a series of lineages, often hidden or overlooked by international critics. In each chapter, prominent contemporary architects across Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Argentina, position their work within both historical and contemporary local and international traditions, revealing the often unconscious lineages, influences, and affinities that shape the contemporary Hispanic American architectural scene. Contributing architects and firms include AToT Architects, Plan:b Architects, Al Borde, UZ:AA, and Grupo Culata-Jovai among others. They position their work within the context of lesser internationally celebrated historic architects such as Ana Elvira Vélez, Felipe Uribe, Jorge Mario Gómez, Ítala Fulvia Villa, Juan Ángel Casasco, Román Fresnedo Siri, Gustavo Scheps, Juvenal Baracco, Emilio Soyer, Miguel Rodrigo Mazuré, and more. This strategy produces a decentering of the internationally established Latin American canon and reveals cross-pollinations among different Latin American countries, offering a dynamic, intergenerational view of architectural evolution that contrasts with typical static and monolithic perspectives. This will be a crucial read for all researchers and students of Latin American architecture, history, and cultural heritage, as well as all those interested in exploring non-western, Global South, and non-canonical architectural traditions.