Zapopan, Jalisco; September 1, 2025.— Universidad Panamericana ’s Guadalajara campus, in collaboration with Editorial Arquitónica, presented the book CCrisis of Architecture or Crisis Against Architecture, by Spanish architect Francisco “Patxi” Mangado.
The book, conceived as a decalogue to mark his induction into the French Academy of Architecture in 2024, launches the Vitruvio Collection, a publishing initiative that seeks to rediscover the historical and theoretical foundations of architecture in order to engage with contemporary challenges.
The event was held at the Demetria Hotel and featured the participation of Rocío Name, architect and director of the Bachelor of Architecture program at the Guadalajara campus;Arabela González Huezo, M.A., editor of *Arquitónica*; Dr. José Manuel Pozo, coordinator of the collection; and the author himself.
Architecture as a Right and Cultural Heritage
The book presentation, moderated by architect Rocío Name, provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of architecture in everyday life and its recognition as a human right.
The first to speak was Dr. José Manuel Pozo, who explained the reasoning behind the name of this book series and highlighted the true value of architecture. “I’d like to touch briefly on the true meaning of the collection; even the name (Vitruvio) is, in itself, a statement of intent, given the expertise that has been brought to bear—expertise aimed at training true architects,” said the collection’s coordinator.
Learning from History to Become Better People
Vitruvius was a Roman architect of the 1st century B.C., author of one of the oldest architectural treatises, *De Architectura*, which should not be overlooked by future architects.
Dr. José Manuel Pozo, who visited Guadalajara for the establishment of the Master’s Degree in Architectural Design at the Guadalajara campus of the Universidad Panamericana , was emphatic in sharing his impressions of the current state of a science (or an art) that must not forget its historical roots.
“We are referring to two factors that, as I have recently observed with my students, confirm a problem: although these students have graduated with degrees in architecture, they have never heard of professionals whom I consider essential, and they lack a foundation in the history of architecture.
"In light of this, the master's program aims to address these shortcomings, and this collection of books seeks to restore precisely those fundamental principles that have been lost," explained Dr. José Manuel Pozo.
For her part, Arabela González, M.A., welcomed the partnership between Arquitónica and the National Institute of Architecture ( Universidad Panamericana), noting that the goal is to create a space for reflection on contemporary architectural theory and practice with the participation of renowned national and international architects.
“It is truly an honor for Arquitónica to have formed this partnership with the National Institute of Architecture ( Universidad Panamericana ) to present this book series, the Vitruvio Collection, which aims to create a space for reflection on contemporary architectural theory and practice,”, said Ms. González Huezo.
The Positive Side of Crises
Architect Francisco “Patxi” Mangado shared his vision of contemporary architecture, asserting that the discipline has always been in crisis, but that this tension is precisely what drives its evolution.
“Architecture—and this is the subject of the book—is indeed in crisis. In fact, all major disciplines have experienced crises; everything has changed. Architecture is contextual; we work with physical contexts, but also with social contexts, technical contexts, and, above all, cultural contexts,” said the architect behind iconic works such as the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias.
Mangado emphasized that each new project must be approached as a unique challenge, leaving behind what has already been accomplished to make way for innovation and social relevance.
“I say in the book that crises in disciplines are not only good, but also extraordinarily necessary.When I take on a new project, it’s the only one that interests me; I have little interest in past ones.”
A Collection for the Future of Architecture
The Vitruvio Collection aims to become a theoretical and practical reference for academics, students, and architecture professionals. Through the publication of works that combine reflection and research, it seeks to document experiences that enrich architectural education and practice in Mexico and around the world.
“We want to take advantage of the presence of prominent architects—both local and international—who combine theory and practice. Our goal is to document these experiences and build a theoretical ‘corpus’ that will allow us to explore different approaches and enrich our research work,” said Arabela González Huezo, M.A.
Present at the event were Dr. Francisco Orozco Argote, vice president of the Universidad Panamericana, and Dr. Jafet Rodríguez, dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture, who reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to cultural and academic outreach.
Through this initiative, the School of Architecture and Urbanism (Universidad Panamericana ) is strengthening its mission to train architects who are innovative, critical, and committed to social transformation through art and technology.
Learn more about the Universidad Panamericana : https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-modelo-educativo/
