Juan Manuel Rois

Juan Manuel Rois is a Professor of Architecture at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina, and serves as a Design Critic in Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (GSD). He holds a PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies from the Universidad Católica de Chile, and has taught at institutions including the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Michigan, where he held visiting professorships such as the Charles Moore Visiting Professor of Urban Design and the Eliel Saarinen Visiting Professor.

Education:

• Professional Degree in Architecture, Universidad Nacional de Rosario
• Master’s in Architecture (Landscape Urbanism concentration), University of Illinois at Chicago
• PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies, Universidad Católica de Chile

Research & Design Focus: His work explores the role of diagrams in design processes, emphasizing how intermediate artifacts shape creative and communicative dynamics. His pedagogy integrates diagrammatic reasoning to enhance collective design collaboration. Notable projects include award-winning urban interventions such as the Central Coastal Area of Rosario and the San Fernando Riverfront, blending theoretical rigor with practical urban and architectural solutions.

Awards:

• First Prize, National Competition for the Central Coastal Area of Rosario (with Marcelo Villafañe)
• Second Prize, International Ideas Competition for the Metropolitan Park of the Rosario-Victoria Bridge (with Diego Arraigada)
• Third Prize, National Competition for the San Fernando Riverfront

Teaching & Collaboration: Rois has mentored through design studios and visiting professorships, fostering interdisciplinary approaches. His theoretical essays have been featured in Azure, Arquine, Plot, and Summa + design magazines, and his work has been exhibited internationally. Collaborations with Villafañe and Arraigada highlight his commitment to bridging design theory and urban practice.