About
Edson Cabalfin is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the Tulane School of Architecture. He previously served as the inaugural Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Director of the Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (SISE) program, and Professor of Practice in Design Thinking. Cabalfin holds a Ph.D. in History of Architecture and Urban Development from Cornell University (2012), an M.S. in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati (2003, under a Fulbright Fellowship), and degrees from the University of the Philippines (B.Sc. and M.Arch., 1996/2001).
His research focuses on postcolonial theory, spatial justice, and marginalized communities, with notable work on colonial legacies in Philippine urban landscapes. He curated the Philippine Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, exploring colonialism and neoliberalism’s impact on urban development. His consultancy Talyer Kayumanggi/Brown Workshop operates globally, emphasizing empathy-centered design in architecture, interior design, and disaster recovery projects (e.g., post-typhoon Haiyan in Leyte).
Teaching includes courses on design thinking, architecture history, and design for social impact. He advocates for equity and inclusion in academia, having previously coordinated diversity initiatives at the University of Cincinnati and mentored international students. His books include What Kids Should Know About Philippine Architecture (2015) and The City Who Had Two Navels (2018), cataloging his Venice Biennale exhibition.
Key projects include the Ecuador Architecture Research Studio (Tulane) and a Southeast Asia disaster resilience studio at UC. He also led design initiatives at the University of Cincinnati’s Live Well Collaborative, focusing on health and wellness through design.
