Dr. Natalia Escobar Castrillón

Biography

Natalia Escobar Castrillón is an Associate Professor at Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism, focusing on architecture and spatial justice. She holds a PhD in History and Theory of Architecture and two Master’s degrees—one in Design from Harvard University and another in Architecture from the University of Seville. Her work explores the relationships between marginalized communities and urban design, addressing spatial justice and urban equity through recent publications that critique the dominant narratives in contemporary urban design and planning practices. Escobar Castrillón's research emphasizes the importance of gender, race, economic status, and immigration status in mediating access to urban resources and infrastructures. She employs methods such as community engagement, counter-mapping, ethnography, and participatory design. Additionally, she is a founder of the research lab ‘Equitable Cities,’ striving to translate academic work into tangible community outcomes. Her research has received funding from various Canadian and international organizations, enabling her to conduct fieldwork in several countries. A published author, her work appears in numerous international journals and has been presented at conferences organized by leading architectural associations.

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