Jesus Vassallo | Rice Architecture

Monday Oct. 14, 2024 , 5 to 6 p.m.
Jesús Vassallo presents his lecture "Broad Spectrum Architecture," reflecting on the problem of realism in architecture as a profession and a discipline, illustrated by Vassallo's recent projects.
A modern wooden pavilion with thick, rectangular columns and a flat overhanging roof stands outdoors on a grassy area, surrounded by trees and fog, with buildings visible in the background.

Jesús Vassallo is a registered architect and a professor of architecture at Rice University. Based in Houston and Madrid, his work for private clients and institutions ranges from buildings to urban design, with a consistent emphasis on construction and design excellence. Areas of expertise include affordable housing, low-carbon construction, and adaptive reuse. His projects have been published and exhibited internationally, including in the Venice and Chicago Biennials. 

Vassallo studied architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (MArch II) and Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (Diploma and PhD). In 2004 Vassallo became a licensed architect in Spain, where he worked in the office of Mansilla + Tuñón Arquitectos as a project architect from 2006 to 2012. He is currently a licensed architect in the State of Texas, and has active projects across Spain, the United States, and Mexico.  

Prior to Rice University, Vassallo has also taught at IE University, ETSAM, Tokyo Tech, Harvard University and the Boston Architectural College. He is the author of several books including Epics in the Everyday (Park Books, 2020) and Seamless (Park Books, 2016). His articles are published internationally in magazines such as El Croquis, AA Files, 2G, Log, Harvard Design Magazine, Domus, or Arquitectura Viva. Between 2011 and 2017 he was an editor of Circo magazine. 

A modern structure with light wooden columns and beams, open to the outdoors, stands on bare earth amid grass and trees, with natural light filtering through the open sides.

 

A modern stone house with large wooden-framed windows and a spacious patio. Two green outdoor chairs and a small black side table sit on the patio, surrounded by plants and tall trees.

 

A modern stone house with a red-tiled roof sits behind a low stone wall, surrounded by trees and greenery under a cloudy sky.