Back from traveling

Sorry for no posts in a while. I just got back from a trip to Argentina and Uraguay. We lectured in Rosario and decided to spend some time there. Juan Rois from UIC organized a number of visits and meetings while we were there. We got to meet some of Argentina's best architects, went to their offices, and visited their projects under construction. Here is a sampling of the buildings (click for larger image).

We saw some amazing projects. The architects were all very open and interested in talking about similarities and differences between architecture and practice. The most striking difference is the role of labor. In Argentina the labor is less expensive but the materials are more expensive in comparison to the US. As a result, the use of brick and concrete (cheap materials) is more widespread and of much higher quality. The craft and time taken to build with masonry or fabricate on-site formwork is not a fearful proposition as it is in the US.

On top of Casa View with Diego, Juan, and Marcelo.

Waiting for our table. With Gerardo, Marcelo, Luis, Juan, Craig, and Jen.

And the steak... We ate some very good Argentinian beef while drinking very good wine from Mendoza.