Written by Cory Chandler
Fulbright recipient Joseph Aranha examines a Tonga grainery as part of his research
into non-western vernacular architecture.
Joseph Aranha, professor of architecture in the
College of Architecture, will teach a design studio and a lecture course covering architectural theory,
and also will conduct field research on traditional and vernacular buildings and
settlements in the Tigray region and the Omo River Valley in Ethiopia.
This is Aranha’s second Fulbright Grant; in 2000 he was a Fulbright professor at
the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Aranha’s research and scholarly publications deal with the study of traditional and
vernacular architecture in non-western societies. He has lectured and participated
in architectural design studio reviews and workshops at universities around the world.
Recently he was invited to Hoi An, Vietnam to participate in an international field
research workshop for architecture students from Thailand, China, Vietnam and Laos.
At Texas Tech, Aranha has initiated and developed university exchange programs and activities and
taught collaborative architectural design studios with the Universidad de las Americas
in Puebla, Mexico and Universidad de Sevilla in Seville, Spain. He has documented,
studied and photographed contemporary as well as traditional built environments in
countries such as Egypt, Yemen, Zanzibar, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, India,
Nepal, Vietnam and Cambodia.
An exhibition of Aranha’s photographs from around the world will be on display beginning
Jan. 26 at Texas Tech’s
International Cultural Center.
