Carlos Alek Iriarte III

I was born and raised along the foothills of Los Angeles County in a predominantly Mexican-American family. I am a student of architecture, engineering, and planning interested in the intersection of these disciplines and the moral responsibility they carry in shaping the built environment.

 

I believe architecture is not simply the production of buildings, but a language that reflects the people, histories, and environments from which it emerges. In my view, architects are not authors imposing form onto the world; we are translators of context. The built environment should reflect its inhabitants and surroundings rather than the ego of its designer.

​

This perspective has led me to pursue both architecture and planning. While design shapes the physical form of our cities, planning offers the analytical and policy frameworks necessary to address issues of equity, infrastructure, and long-term urban resilience.

​

Through studio work, internships, research, and published writing, I explore questions of design justice, urban regeneration, and the historical forces that continue to shape cities like Los Angeles. As I continue my work, I hope to contribute to a future where the design of the built environment is more socially accountable, technically rigorous, and accessible to all.