The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) hosted a conference titled “Lo que creo y lo que hago. Visión y obra arquitectónica” on Monday, 25 November 2023. The event was organized by the School of Architecture within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FIA) and took place in the Miguel Rosado Montes de Oca High‑Technology Laboratories building. The speaker was Roberto Rijo, a Dominican architect and UASD alumnus. Rijo, who runs the firm Roberto Rijo + Arquitectos Asociados, shared his educational background, early professional experiences, and key projects. He emphasized that architecture’s primary purpose is to solve problems and urged students to develop a critical and creative vision that allows them to explore multiple solutions for each project. “The quality of architecture does not depend solely on the size or complexity of a work, but on the ability to respond adequately to the needs presented, integrating aesthetic, economic, regulatory and construction criteria,” Rijo said. He encouraged future professionals to strengthen their conceptual thinking, study other architects’ design processes, and recognize that every project, regardless of scale, requires research, reflection and a coherent proposal. The conference was part of the School of Architecture’s Wednesday Lecture Series, which aims to provide students with opportunities to reflect on architectural thought, creative processes and the challenges of turning ideas into socially responsive projects. At the opening of the event, the School’s director, architect Ana Ycela Montás Montaño, welcomed participants and thanked faculty, collaborators, students and professionals who contributed to the series. She highlighted that such gatherings support the university’s vision of extending learning beyond the classroom, allowing students to encounter professional experiences, broaden perspectives and find inspiration to transform ideas into reality. Roberto Rijo, born in Montecristi in 1963, is a UASD graduate with a notable national and international reputation. His work includes residential, commercial, planning and architectural design projects that emphasize site specificity, geometry, materials and construction systems. He has received several awards, including first prize in the Thesis category at the Fifth Biennial of Architecture of Santo Domingo, and his projects have been selected for biennials in Ibero‑America, Puerto Rico and Miami.
Article source: El Nuevo Diario | Image credit: El Nuevo Diario