Editorial

Abstract

Bitacora Arquitectura joins the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, which happens to be the 100th anniversary of the start of that certain social movement known as the Mexican Revolution. Most of the authors that contributed to this commemoration issue are a part of the university community. Whether they are researchers, professors, alumni or students at the School of Architecture, they offer in their texts an insight into the thoughts and actions of the university, translated into projects and works. Louise Noelle highlights the role of the authors of the original architectural project University City Master Plan that failed to be built. She also points out some actions that were stopped, but later on continued and described in specialized literature, and unanswered questions posed by architecture historians. Such non-existent works are the starting point for a discussion on the feasibility of projects, which depends on the circumstances surrounding any architectural work. Catherine Ettinger analyzes the work of Enrique Guerrero, a little known architect from the generation of architects that built the modern Mexico, determined by the post-revolutionary official project: huge equipment, hospitals and schools, and residences for social purposes, which was influenced by tradition and the modern architectural movement. Environmental sustainability is currently one of the core issues in scientific research and interdisciplinary debates. Virginia Lahera analyzes, from a critical point of view, the steps taken by unam in terms of education, research and dissemination of such priority subject. In “Platicas de 1933”, Johanna Lozoya presents a new perspective of the debate raised among architects, while trying to redefine the professional profile within the new national project. She acknowledges that, after 70 years, there are still divisions and troubles, and emphasizes the need for theories to guide Mexican architects based on debate and not on conviction. In an open forum, Amaya Larrucea offers a historical overview of landscape architecture in Mexico, from a scientific-rational and aesthetic point of view. This article celebrates 25 years of the creation of a degree in landscape architecture, and the 100th anniversary of unam. We congratulate all those involved in this academic project. In view of the unrest experienced due to the contemporary crisis of values, Jose Antonio Abrego explores the essential role of the university and the exercise of autonomy, and invites us to act, as a part of the university community, according to the categorical rules or social aims proposed by the university: educate, conduct research and disseminate culture. In the article about public spaces in University City, Emilio Sandoval, following an exchange experience at Berkeley University, poses questions on the various ways in which open spaces in university campuses should be used. Without expecting any answer, he considers the origin and transformation of the university, and conducts a survey on how users perceive this space that is an emblem of modernity in Mexico. Adriana Alvarez, using the collections kept in the Historical Archives of unam, explains how to take possession of University City spaces, based on photographic documents kept there. Through images, as in a family album, the history of the University is embodied, displaying scenes of daily life that evidence the evolution of Mexican society throughout the past 60 years. The University, novels and the industrial city are key elements to understand modernity, according to Jose Manuel Guzman; in his text, he explores the presence of the university in the Mexican novel of the 20th century. This analysis focuses on four sections corresponding to four moments in the past century. Thus, it becomes evident that the university project, emerged from the Revolution, transcended to build the positive aspects of contemporary Mexico. The Heritage section, by Lourdes Cruz, deals with the University Olympic Stadium, a building that is an emblem of University City, and one of the most important works in Mexican architecture during the 20th century. This article highlights the aesthetic and heritage value of such building, and is supported by documents kept in the Architecture Archives included in the personal collection of Augusto Perez Palacios. This work emphasizes the importance of keeping and protecting all materials that allow us to witness the history of national architecture. After the first circuit in University City was declared an artistic monument (2005) and included in the world heritage list (2007), Carlos Rios once again went over the plastic integration debate, discussing the characteristics of such ephemeral and controversial movement that is more and more valued. Finally, in the Students section, a summary of the thesis awarded the “Abraham Zabludovski” 2009 prize: a project of a cultural center for deaf people in Mexico City. This project, conceived to serve an alienated social group, also expresses the social mission of the university. After 100 years, the unam is one of the strongest revolutionary projects in the national context due to its academic relevance and the social, political and cultural role it plays nationwide, and it is also renowned abroad. The legacy of the university will continue to be a benchmark for generations to come. “The spirit shall speak for my race”