mi casa es tu casa: since 1973

The image above is a mural created by CASA members in the 5th floor lobby of Wurster Hall in the early 1970s. The association was founded upon ideas of reform and activism of that era---- in 2011, a spec of the mural remains on the left door--- a spec remains, but enough to instill the spirit of CASA.

David Diaz: "Latinos are already sustainable"

By Cesar Murillo

David Diaz presented the role of Latinos in the urban setting, the role of institutions like 'el barrio'--these 'special' neighborhoods that organize in a unique-but-mundane way in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. These neighborhoods are notoriously linked to high levels of poverty, gangs, drugs, violence, and happily known for children playing about the streets, families hanging out in the patios, street vendors, parks of musicians and holiday parties; perhaps known as 'the ghetto' or 'the hood.' Nevertheless, these are the streets where most Latino families are created; a 'home' for many of us.

David Diaz introduced the discussion with a narrative of his Southern Californian youth, "As a carpenter's son... a professional, in city government, the political universe; and an academic, attending a racist urban planning program in the 1970's (UC Berkeley) and a somewhat progressive program in the late 1980s (UCLA). " (Diaz, 'Barrio Urbanism')

As part of our audience, Anne Cervantes--architect, community activist, and also CASA alumna, shared the racial differences that existed at the College of Environmental Design during the early 1970's. Diaz agreed that the role of all cities is to create a more sustainable one. Despite the location or demographics, making good use of our resources is an important value for the future.

Humorously, Diaz thinks that Latinos have 'been raised' to be sustainable. He says that Latinos know how to live tightly, shop locally, recycle, walk, use public transit, and engage in social/outdoor recreational activities. Diaz says, "Latinos are already sustainable,"---ironically, Latinos have been forced to consider affordability in their way of living and learned to make good use of their resources for survival in the urban setting; but really, with what life-style should you approach a big city? What should be our role in making our cities (especially LA and SF) more sustainable in the next generations?

Francisco Pardo: Towards a New Mexican Architecture.

Francisco Pardo is co-founder of At103 in Mexico D.F. and also a visiting professor this semester, Fall 2010. Prior to establishing his own firm, he worked for ChoSlade Architecture in New York City and for TEN Arquitectos in Mexico City and New York. He has a Master's of Architecture from Columbia University and a Construction Direction Degree from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) and Anahuac University (Mexico). He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Pratt Institute in New York, the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and the Universidad Anáhuac. Currently, he is the leading architecture professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.


By Cesar Murillo

In our conversation led by Francisco Pardo, he introduced a neighborhood redesign for an international competition. The design included the restoration of existing buildings in the poorest communities of Mexico D.F. These building-types are commonly known as a 'Vecindad'--a building containing several (often low-income oriented) housing units. Initially, as a form of housing created through the subdivision of vacated elite housing in historic parts of Mexican cities, where rooms around a central patio allow families to share facilities (such as lavatories and/or kitchens) with other tenants.


[typical vecindad type in Mexico D.F.]

The study explored the possibilities of adding levels to create skyscrapers on the existing structures. As a way to revitalize these parts of D.F., the vecindades would integrate commercial and living spaces. Thus the creation of new vehiclular and pedestrain transit, and even street vendors, would help promote a new sense of security--as the residences would become vigilantes, or 'street-watchers'--as Pardo called them. This project addresses the 'social responsibility' of Pardo's architecture to the sometimes-forgotten communities of Mexico. Similar to the ideas of David Diaz's Barrio Urbanism, Pardo concluded that these communities are incidentally sustainable. These people share common spaces in form of patios-acknowledging a traditional Spanish typology of form. The patio becomes the central space of community and interaction among residences. As integrating the forgotten neighborhoods of one of the biggest cities in the world, Pardo hopes to one day see more projects like 'La Nueva' Vecindad in urban habitats. Pardo explained that the types of projects and design values that he advocates create the 'Modern Mexican' architecture. "It's not about aesthetic..there is no real Mexican aesthetic," Pardo acknowledged. "Why do we need one? ...who decides what Mexican looks like?" he concluded.


[other works by at103, check out their site: http://www.at103.net/]

Firm Tour: GENSLER

Paz Gutierrez: Resourcing Latin American Architecture.

by Cesar Murillo

Paz Gutierrez, Chilean architect and architecture professor at UC Berkeley, founder of BIOMS: an interdisciplinary research initiative intersecting architecture and bio-engineering with principles of design and bio-physics, presented a discussion about her research and work as an
architect in Latin America and now professor in the US.

In this informal discussion, we hoped to discuss the differences between the Latin American VS. Western(American) approach to architecture, how one's background influences/shapes our
design values, how she combines the life of a woman and mother in the usually-male-dominated field.

Paz admits that the differences between US and Latin American architecture exist in the actual practice, rather than any said style. The rigidity of existing codes in our country. She believes that the specificity of these and the large-sized projects in the US create too many conflicts, as these become more difficult to handle and worsens communication among parties.

In South America, projects are not on the classification of high-end 'contemporary architecture'--yet have a closer relationship with the skill of laborers and smaller scale of towns. "There's a finer attention to details," says Paz.

US architecture does not have a defined aesthetic, for projects become a product of multiple backgrounds and identities. On the other hand, she uses the Spanish word 'sobrio'--(or sober, moderated) to define Latino work, "more exquisite, differences in taste...less cheesy and flashy."

Nonetheless, she concluded by stating that the US has more rigid rules for creating architecture, yet a stronger framework of leadership. Unfortunately, Paz recognizes that in Latin American countries like Chile, Peru, and Brazil, have very little funding. "We need new generations, new leaders who will fund these projects."


[check out more about Paz, http://www.bioms.info ]

Abel Morales: Reaching out + Teaching Design to Local Elementary School Students.

Abel Morales graduated from the Berkeley M.Arch program in 2006 and is designer/partner of TASK: A multi-disciplinary design studio. Additionally, he's worked closely with students--as a graduate student instructor for Structures at CED, and more recently in a summer design studio with local Bay Area middle schools: First Graduate. Abel shared his experiences as student--transitioning between his undergrad and graduate years, and what he has done since then. Along with CASA members Carla Arechar and Daniel Malagon, they discussed the challenges of reaching out to people at a young age.





[more about Abel, check it out: http://taskisdesign.com/]

Celebration of Life, Death, and, Art.

[para pintar lo que sigue]

By Cesar Murillo

No person shall live forever-- but the spirit of One, the essence of an era can be eternalized through the magic of a single painting; thus provoking our feelings, suggesting new dimensions, and inspiring new uses for people, buildings, cities, nations, and dreams. In celebration of the dead, CASA: Chicano/Latino Architecture Student Association acknowledges the lives of painters like Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, David Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco, Rufino Tamayo, Andres de Santa Maria, and architect-painter Luis Barragán. We believe that painters are able to transform a canvass into an illustration of dreams, or any emotion. In this celebration, our altar depicts the paintings of the artists, because we want to remember them for their talent, their ideas, and perspectives of the world—rather than just as faces. Their work is important to us as architecture students for it allows us to see the world visually, and inspire us to create spaces, volumes, needed to create architecture. Similarly, by depicting Luis Barragán and the tools he might have used to produce his work, wood, paint, and brushes, we commemorate his life, and our current hopes as future designers/architects.

[what is dia de los muertos?]

by Eli Leonardo

Dia de los Muertos (day of the dead) is an annual celebration dedicated to commemorating ancestors and loved ones now gone. It is a community focused event as it brings together families and friends. The celebration features ofrendas, or altars, as a way to respect, love, and commemorate those who have passed. Altars have marigolds, candels, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and images, favorite foods, and drinks of those we are commemorating. There are many different ideas for altars. There are altars that commemorate people that made an impact in their lives whichcan include historical figures and/or family members. Some altars have themes with concepts such as the death of education to undocumented students. This year CASA celebrated the life and death of Latino Artists: Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera,

Step on Your Questions, Before They Step on You!

Fall Semester 2010.

Fall Semester 2010 CASA Officers:

Eli Leonardo- CoChair
Cesar Murillo-CoChair
Cecilia Cardenas-Activities Coordinator
Silvia Roberston-Activities Coordinator
Albert Orozco- Outreach
Leslie Valencia- Educational Awareness
Matt Mojica- Historian
Manuel Valdez-Treasurer
Jesus Barajas- Treasurer
Luis Ochoa- Secretary

[fundraisers]



// Raza Tuesdays at Sproul and fundraisers at Wurster.

[retreat]









Out in the wilderness! // Lake Chabot, Oakland.

[bowling]




// Albany Bowl


[nights-OUT]



// El Rancho

[banquet]