David Alejandro Luza Cornejo

David Alejandro Luza Cornejo is a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV). He serves as a member of the board of directors of the Regional Study Center (CONICYT) on Tourism and Heritage, and represents PUCV at the Baburizza Museum Corporation. As a founding member of the Amereida Cultural Corporation, he resides in Ciudad Abierta and has been instrumental in architectural and urban development initiatives across Chile.

Luza earned his Doctorate in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC-Barcelona) and completed his architectural studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, where he began his academic journey in 1987. His educational background combines formal academic training with deep practical experience in experimental architecture through the Open City movement.

His research focuses on Habitability in Urban Infrastructure, City and Habitability, and Sustainable Territorial Design. Luza's work explores the relationship between urban environments and human habitation, emphasizing inclusive design, heritage conservation, and the integration of natural and built environments. His approach combines theoretical frameworks with hands-on experimentation through the Amereida Cultural Corporation's projects.

His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on urban design, experimental architecture, and the Open City concept. The research trajectory reveals an evolution from documentation of the Open City movement toward more applied research in inclusive design, heritage conservation, and disaster recovery. His work increasingly addresses contemporary challenges in urban planning while maintaining strong connections to the foundational principles of the Valparaíso School of Architecture.

Professor Luza has directed numerous research projects including the Research Center on Inclusion and Accessibility Studies (2019-2022), the Accessibility and Interpretation Study of the Amereida Cultural and Recreation Park (2013), and the Analysis of Sustainable Territorial Design in the Open City (2010-2011). His grant work has focused on urban development programs for Valparaíso with IDB Funds, infrastructure projects like Quebrada Verde Park and Las Vegas Park in Calama, and design of interpretive equipment for heritage sites.

As an educator, Luza has mentored numerous students through undergraduate and graduate theses focusing on social sports centers, urban parks, market rehabilitation, inclusive community centers, and sustainable housing. His teaching spans courses on Habitability and Urban Infrastructure, Architectural Workshops, and Structural Design.

As a core member of Ciudad Abierta and the Amereida Cultural Corporation, Luza has participated in the Travesías de Amereida since 1984, completing 24 expeditions across Latin America including the recent Crossing the Strait of Magellan (2024) and San Luis River Park Crossing (2023). These expeditions form a critical component of his architectural pedagogy and design methodology.