New Books Network Fernando Luiz Lara, "Spatial Theories for the Americas: Counterweights to Five Centuries of Eurocentrism" (U Pittsburgh Press, 2024)
Jan 13, 2026
Fernando Luiz Lara, Professor of architecture at the Weitzman School of Design, engages in a thought-provoking discussion about his book, emphasizing a critical reevaluation of Eurocentrism in architectural theory. He explores the link between modernization and colonization, highlighting how pre-colonial histories are often overlooked. Lara also introduces the concept of relational urbanism, critiques Western abstraction, and repositions favelas as sites of resistance. His insights challenge listeners to rethink American spaces through diverse cultural lenses.
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Reframing Architectural History Around The Americas
- Fernando Luiz Lara repositions global architectural history by placing key reference points in the Americas instead of Europe.
- He connects disparate American spatial histories to reveal a new constellation of theory and practice.
Book As A First Counterweight
- Lara frames the book as an initial counterweight to five centuries of Eurocentrism rather than a completed manifesto.
- He says acknowledging erasure is the essential first step toward Spatial Theories for the Americas.
Class Exercise Reveals American Historical Amnesia
- Lara assigns students to write about who lived where they grew up 500 years ago and finds many in the Americas cannot answer.
- He contrasts this with students from Europe and Asia who usually know their local long histories.
