Humberto Eliash

Abstract

“I can realize that pragmatism is strongly defeating idealism at architecture colleges”.
We visited architect Humberto Eliash in his office in Santiago, to talk about architecture teaching in Chile. Presently, he holds the position of President of the accrediting agency for Colegio de Arquitectos for the arts majors, architecture and design. He is a professor at architecture colleges of Universidad de Chile and Finis Terrae and has been an assessing pier during the accreditation process of architecture colleges for CNAP. Humberto recognizes territorial diversification and approach diversities, recently appearing in Chile as result of the increasing number of architecture colleges, as positive factors. Nevertheless, he points out that this variety turns out to be more apparent than real. When study programs and curricular meshes are observed, similitude in these programs arises, though they are intended to be different. He states how indispensable enhancing research and conciliating teaching and critical consciousness and reflection are, so as colleges do not only shelter exclusively under teaching, but also participate in the debate of the national development in our concerning areas: territory, cities and architecture.