GSAPP Columbia University
Login

Latin Lab: The Latin American and Caribbean Laboratory

 
Director: Clara Irazábal, PhD
 
Vision
Latin Lab seeks to become a leading laboratory for the study of the interrelated dynamics of the built environment and community development in LAC and its diasporas and a premier resource to assist in their just transformations.
 
Mission
The Latin Lab serves as an intellectual platform for all the research, pedagogical, and service initiatives undertaken by GSAPP community related to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It explores the complex and fluid dynamics of urban development in LAC. Rather than approach LAC as a homogeneous super-region, the Lab examines and understands LAC as a fluxing cosmology of multi-scalar urban and rural settlements and (de/re)territorialized diasporas around the world, a palimpsest of layered identities, each with glocal dimensions resilient to simplification and regionalization.
 
The Latin Lab explores the unique characteristics of rural, urban, and peri-urban development in LAC, which is often marked by jarring socio-spatial divides. It pursues experimental design and research projects in the areas of architectural and urban design, urban planning, historic preservation, and real estate development. These projects address complex, contemporary developments in Latin and Caribbean communities, and foster cutting edge explorations framed by the issues of cultural and spatial identity, migration, and living standards.

The Latin Lab aims to establish a permanent space for research, service, and pedagogical exploration about LAC settlements and cultures. Its initiatives aim to reinforce cross-disciplinary dialogues within and beyond GSAPP’s community that critically analyze the impact of current and future developments in LAC through symposiums, conferences, exhibitions, design proposals, research projects, and site-based coursework. The Lab establishes collaborative relationships with academic and professional individuals and institutions, government agencies, and NGOs to build effective tools for the improvement of LAC settlements through focused analyses and proposals.

Research Themes
· LAC diasporas in New York City, other US cities, and around the world
· Public space
· Sustainable and equitable planning and design
· Inclusive planning and design processes
· Political and socio-cultural city analyses
· City image-, identity-, and place-making processes
LISTED UNDER: Global Global Network Labs Latin Lab

Share: