Nestor I.

Education

• Tohoku University Master's of Architecture Design and Building Sciences, Master of Ingenireeng, Architecture Design and Building Sciences, A 2012 – 2014 Activities and Societies: As a member of Professor Taro Igarashi’s lab at Tohoku University, I participated in interdisciplinary research bridging architectural design, urban theory, and spatial aesthetics. The lab encouraged critical engagement with architecture’s cultural, social, and historical dimensions, often through collaborative design studios, exhibition curation, and public discourse. Activities included experimental design workshops, cross-institutional academic collaborations, and international symposiums focusing on contemporary architectural challenges in Japan and globally. I also contributed to design competitions, academic reviews, and field research, including urban morphology studies and design interventions. The environment fostered a strong exchange between theory and practice, with regular input from prominent architects, critics, and visiting scholars. Master’s Program in Architectural Design and Building Science – Tohoku University (Taro Igarashi Laboratory)
  
  The Master’s program at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Engineering offered an advanced and multidisciplinary education in architectural design, theory, and building sciences. The curriculum combined rigorous academic research with design studio work, focusing on the integration of spatial theory, construction technology, sustainability, and critical cultural analysis.
  
  Under the guidance of Professor Taro Igarashi—an internationally recognized architectural historian and curator—the program emphasized the intersection of architecture and contemporary society. Students were encouraged to explore architecture as both a physical and intellectual practice, with strong attention to social responsibility, historical context, and experimental methodologies.
  
  Coursework included advanced architectural theory, building physics, structural systems, urban design, and sustainable planning, supported by hands-on design studios and collaborative workshops. The program also fostered engagement with exhibitions, academic publishing, and interdisciplinary projects. Students regularly participated in critiques, symposia, and research presentations, often alongside leading voices in Japanese and international architecture.
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bachelor's in Architecture, Architecture, B 2000 – 2004 Activities and Societies: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana – Faculty of Architecture and Design Bachelor of Architecture – Activities and Societies During my undergraduate studies at Javeriana University in Bogotá, I engaged actively in both academic and extracurricular initiatives that shaped my architectural and professional foundation. The program emphasized design excellence, critical urban thinking, sustainability, and social responsibility—principles embedded in the school’s Jesuit values. I participated in vertical design studios, academic research groups, and collaborative workshops with urban planning and engineering faculties. I contributed to community-based design initiatives, including housing and public space interventions in underserved urban areas. Additionally, I took part in design competitions and interdisciplinary seminars focusing on city development, heritage, and sustainability. Throughout the program, I collaborated closely with professors, architects, and planners across diverse subjects, from structural systems and construction methods to theory, landscape, and architectural history. My time at Javeriana laid the groundwork for a rigorous, holistic, and contextually sensitive approach to design. The Bachelor of Architecture program at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ), Bogotá, is a comprehensive five-year professional degree that integrates architectural design, urban planning, construction technology, and critical theory. Rooted in the university’s Jesuit tradition, the program emphasizes ethical responsibility, social engagement, and sustainable development.
  
  Students are trained through progressive design studios, technical modules, and interdisciplinary collaboration with fields such as engineering, environmental studies, and social sciences. The curriculum includes coursework in architectural history and theory, structural systems, building sciences, digital design, and urban analysis. It culminates in a final graduation project where students independently develop an architectural proposal that responds to a real-world context.
  
  The program is known for its rigorous academic standards, strong studio culture, and its commitment to public interest architecture. Graduates are prepared to work across scales—from buildings to city planning—and to lead design processes that are technically sound, environmentally responsible, and socially conscious.