Alma Du Solier

Alma Du Solier is a Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, where she teaches courses including First Year Core Design Studio, Drawing for Landscape Architects, and Advanced Studios. She is also Studio Director and Principal at Hood Design Studio, a firm known for projects like the DeYoung Museum改造. Her work bridges environmental planning with design, emphasizing collaboration between stakeholders.

• Education: Master of Landscape Architecture (UC Berkeley, 1999); Bachelor of Architecture (ITESM Campus Monterrey, Mexico)

Her research focuses on demystifying the design process, cultural landscapes, and sustainable urban development. She prioritizes practical experience over theoretical detachment, advocating for design as a fluid, intentional practice rooted in bicultural perspectives. Notable projects include NVIDIA's gray paving system (2021) and Zacatecas' native vegetation initiative (2009).

Her teaching philosophy integrates professional practice, using case studies to illustrate design's role in complex urban challenges. She emphasizes iterative refinement and rejects the notion of designers as sole problem-solvers, encouraging students to view projects as layered contributions to evolving cultural landscapes.