Research Seminar: Women in Architecture, Gender and Spatial (In)Justice in Mexico and Iran

The Chair of Landscape Architecture at the Estonian University of Life Sciences is pleased to host two guest lecturers from the University of Monterrey, Mexico, for an international research seminar.
The seminar will focus on the role of women in public space, spatial justice, and architectural practice in the context of Mexico and Iran. It brings together three presentations that approach the topic from different geographical and cultural perspectives, inviting reflection on how spatial solutions and urban planning can promote social inclusion and gender equality.

The aim of the seminar is to provide an opportunity to delve into gender-sensitive questions in urban space and architecture, understand the challenges of different societies, and share experiences and academic approaches. The event is open to all interested participants – students, faculty members, researchers, practitioners, and anyone with an interest in social studies.

Speakers and topics:

Rosaura López – Mexican architect, expert in renewable energy and environmental education, PhD candidate at UNAM, and Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Monterrey.
Presentation: "Tracing Her Footsteps: Women’s Influence in Mexican History, Society, and Architecture"
– A reflection on the overlooked contributions of women to Mexico’s cultural and spatial development and a call for a more inclusive historical narrative.

Zaida Montañana – Mexican architect and academic with 25 years of experience leading large-scale urban planning projects, currently a full-time professor at the University of Monterrey.
Together with Rosaura López: "Invisible Presences: Gendered Injustice and Spatial Disparity in Monterrey and Mexico"
– An analysis of how urban planning and public space contribute to gender-based injustice and how gender-aware design can serve as a tool for change.

Mana Taheri Talesh – Junior researcher and programme coordinator at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, with a background in architecture and landscape architecture.
Presentation: "Perception and Use of Urban Green Spaces by Iranian Women of Different Generations: A Study of Gendered Spatial Injustice"
– A study of the everyday strategies Iranian women use in public space, highlighting generational differences and ways of overcoming societal restrictions.