Welcome back to #ModelMakers! Today, we’re highlighting Alejandra Mateus De La Torre — a 6th Year graduate student at the University of South Florida. Read on to learn more about Alejandra, and get inspired!

Name: Alejandra Mateus De La Torre

School: University of South Florida – School of Architecture and Community Design

Degree Program: Master of Architecture (M.Arch)

Year in School: 6th Year — Graduate Student
(Our program is currently structured as a 2-year undergraduate + 4-year graduate sequence, though it will soon transition to a 4-year undergraduate + 2-year graduate model.)

Describe Your Design Style:

My design style begins with a belief: architecture is not just to be seen, but a framework for relationships.

For a long time, I thought design was primarily about how a building looks. Over the years, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the ways plans and sections reveal how people gather, circulate, and encounter one another in the built environment.

In short, maybe I don’t have a visual design style. To me, design is about the experiences it can hold and a palimpsest of stories. I am especially interested in thresholds, and my work aspires to contribute meaningfully to the social fabric of a place, creating spaces that feel rooted, generous, and capable of fostering belonging.