TALCA Graduation Studio ORO Editions

Country: Chile

University: School of Architecture of the University of Talca.

Professors: Eduardo Aguirre, Gregorio Brugnoli, Glenn Deulofeu, Kenneth Gleiser, Víctor Letelier, Andrés Maragaño, Juan Román, Susana Sepúlveda, José Luis Uribe, Germán Valenzuela, Blanca Zúñiga.

Duration: Active since 2004

Studio timeline: Definition of the site and research topic, two months; Definition of the general idea and the project, two months; Preparation of construction details, two months; Construction, two months.

Students: The works are individual and around thirty are completed each year.

Location of the projects: Central Valley of Chile.

Clients or organizations: Social organizations, civil associations, communities, municipalities, public institutions.

Donors and financial support: Companies, communities, municipalities, institutions, public grants. Main publications:

José Luis Uribe Ortiz, ed., Talca, cuestión de educación (Mexico D.F: Arquine S.A. de C.V., 2013).

Jose Luis Uribe Ortiz, ed., Against the Tide: Chilean Pavilion at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale (Germany: Hatje Cantz, 2016).

Juan Román, ed., Revistas Talca Nos. 1 to 5 (Chile: Editorial Universidad de Talca).

Blanca Zúñiga Alegría, Espacio público rural (Chile: Editorial Sa. Cabana, 2021). Germán Valenzuela, ed., Talca inédito (Chile: Editorial Pequeño Dios, 2013).

Awards and honors: Young Talent Architecture Award, Mies van der Rohe Foundation, Spain 2020. Global Award for Sustainable Architecture 2015, Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine, France, 2015.

Archiprix

International, Hunter Douglas Awards, The Netherlands, 2017. Archiprix International, Hunter Douglas Awards, The Netherlands, 2012.

The School of Architecture of the University of Talca was founded in 1998 when the Council of Rectors approved the academic project prepared by the architect Juan Román. In 2001, the academic curriculum was defined, which to date continues to be organized into two semesters per year. The school’s curriculum is based on three pillars: looking at the Central Valley of Chile as a territory for reflection and action; focusing on material culture; and learning by doing through designbuild studios. Four types of consecutive and cumulative studios are held: first, the Materials Studio for first-year students, focused on an exercise with a cube of material; second, the Bodies Studio, also for the first year, deals with recognizing oneself in space and configuring the dynamics of movement; third, the August Studio or Work Studio, which sees students participate in building small-format projects in the Central Valley of Chile; and finally, the Graduation Studio, carried out by finalyear students who must bring together the components of research, management, project, construction, and dissemination of the work.