Fernando Lara

Fernando Luiz Lara works on theorizing spaces of the Americas with an emphasis on the dissemination of design ideas beyond the traditional disciplinary boundaries. Framed by decolonial theories, Lara has written widely about issues that pertain to the built environment of our continent.

His latest publications include Street Matters: A Critical History of 20th Century Urban Policy in Brazil (with Ana Paula Koury, 2022); Excepcionalidad del Modernismo Brasileño (2019); Modern Architecture in Latin America (with Luis Carranza, 2015); and The Rise of Popular Modernist Architecture in Brazil (2008). Among the many books he edited are Decolonizing the Spatial History of the Americas (2022) and Spatial Concepts for Decolonizing the Americas (with Felipe Hernandez, 2023). His forthcoming book, Spatial Theories for the Americas, is under contract with the University of Pittsburgh Press.

Before joining the Weitzman School, Lara was the director of the PhD Program in Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin (2018-23), and chair of the Brazil center at the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies in that same University (2012-15). He has also taught at the University of Michigan (2004-09) and was a visiting professor at the University of São Paulo, Instituto de Estudos Brasileiros, in 2017.