PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Natalia Escobar Castrillon (she/they) MArch (University of Seville), MDes (Harvard University), PhD in Architecture (Harvard University).

I am a White, immigrant settler living in Ottawa (unceded Anishinaabe indigenous territory), born in Spain. In many ways, I experience the city, and design more generally, from a privileged position. But as a woman and first generation immigrant with an invisibilized disability, I also accumulated divergent experiences that can inform the development of more equitable cities. More importantly, I collaborate with underprivileged communities to develop an intersectional approach to urban equity that consider other forms of social and spatial oppression beyond my own experiences and strive to serve communities in tangible ways.

I am also a licensed architect and a professor of Architecture and Social Justice at Carleton University. I hold a PhD in Architecture and a Master in Design from Harvard University, as well as a Masters in Architecture from the University of Seville.  Prior to Carleton, I taught graduate courses at Harvard University, Boston University, Chile Catholic University, and São Paulo University. My research and teaching work addresses questions of spatial justice, social equity, collective identity, displacement, and representation in the built environment. My publications unpack the complexities of contested buildings and sites worldwide, and discuss the role of design and narrative-making in supporting or silencing social groups. I have taught courses on these topics engaging local communities. 

My work has been awarded grants from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF), the Spanish Ministry of Education (TALENTIA), the Jorge Paulo Lemann Foundation, the David Rockefeller Foundation, the Harvard Asia Center, and the São Paulo Academic Research Foundation (FAPESP), among others, which allow me to pursue fieldwork in Europe, Latin America, east Asia, and North America, where I studied the intersection of architecture with questions of power, gender, race, and social class.

contact: natalia.escobar@carleton.ca

PARTNERS

Ottawa Community Housing (OCH): offers approximately 15,000 homes to about 32,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout Ottawa and house a diverse population with different languages, cultures, and ethnicities. Our direct collaborators include: Natalie Drouin (Manager of Community Development), Medhi Louaz (Volunteer Engagement), Amal Masaye (Community Developer), and Brent Chisholm (Building Management).

Rideau Rockliffe Community Resource Center (RRCRC): Our mission is to provide a range of social supports and services that enable the empowerment of residents, community resilience, and the inclusion of all.​ Our vision is for a safe, dignified and fulfilling life for all Rideau-Rockcliffe residents. Our direct collaborator is Mijanou Gravelle (Social Workers and Architect).

COLLABORATORS

Region Austral (assistance in producing visualizations): We are a design firm based in Argentina working at the intersection of urban design, landscape architecture, and regional planning based in Córdoba, Argentina. We analyze the city and the territory based on an interdisciplinary, multi-scale dialogue, together with citizen participation processes and the strategic understanding of local communities, infrastructures and ecosystems.

Carolina Sepúlveda (Coordinator of research in Santiago de Chile): I am a Chilean mestiza cis-gender woman born and living in Santiago, Chile, on the unceded un-surrendered territory of several indigenous nations. I am an Architect, curator, and researcher. I hold a Master in Design Studies, Art, Design, and the Public Domain from Harvard GSD, and a B. Arch. from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. My work is at the intersection of architecture, curatorial practices, and activism.

STUDENTS COLLABORATORS

Mapping With Communities:

Alia Farhat (community liaison, Overbrook), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Emma Rath (production of visualizations), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Sarah Chin (production of visualizations), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Laura Viada Ferrari (production of visualization), Masters in Architecture, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Caitlin Chin (production of visualizations), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Community Garden & Public Space:

Alex Saucier (design, construction, and management), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Olive Lazarus (community outreach), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Keegan Metheringham (wood construction), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Amanda Wu (wood construction), Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.

Emma Monfette (wood construction), Bachelor in Architecture, Carleton University.

Ben Merrit (design, and construction). Masters in Architecture, Carleton University.