ANAGISEL TOSCANO RAMOS
Student at University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture
Anagisel Toscano Ramos was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1997. Since Anagisel‘s parents are not U.S. citizens, she was immediately taken as a baby to live in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. She grew up there until the age of nine when her father got the opportunity to do a Ph.D. degree in Spain. They all moved to Valencia and lived there for three years. While living in Valencia, Anagisel and her brother were enrolled in a British School to keep practicing English. By the time they moved back from Spain, Ciudad Juarez was not safe due to the violence that took over the city. Therefore, Anagisel’s parents arranged for her and her brother to live in El Paso with their uncle so that they could enroll in school. Meaning that at the age of twelve, Anagisel was already living without her parents. She could only visit them in Juarez during the weekend. Once Anagisel graduated from High School, she was admitted into the University of Texas at San Antonio for the architecture program. After graduating from UTSA, she received a job as an architectural intern at Overland Partners. She spent two years working there and learning about the industry. Now, Anagisel is enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin to complete her Master’s Degree in Architecture.
Anagisel‘s Fun Facts
Where are you from? Ciudad Juarez/El Paso area
What is your favorite Latina/x dish? I love Enchiladas and Mole, therefore my favorite dish of all time is the Enmoladas
What is your favorite song by a Latino/a/x artist? ¿Por Qué Me Haces Llorar? By Juan Gabriel
My favorite Mexican celebration is El Día de los Muertos
I have a double Nationality; I received my Mexican Nationality from my parents
My favorite Mexican beach is Puerto Peñasco
I grew up swimming my entire life. I did 15 years of competitive swimming in Mexico, Spain, and the U.S.. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
What inspired you to study architecture?
Making things with my hands has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In the fifth grade my professor called me an architect and from then on, my parents encouraged me to keep on building and designing. When I finally understood all of the roles that an architect can chose to practice, I was excited for the opportunity to help people with my creations. More importantly, since I had the opportunity to live in various countries, I realized that due to the differences in infrastructure, security and stability do not come easily to people in Mexico (or other underdeveloped countries). Therefore, I strive to be involved in projects that will serve underdeveloped communities and hopefully prove that good architecture should be accessible for all, and not just for the rich. I feel lucky to have found a passion in architecture that allows me to influence the world around me, both physically and emotionally.
Since I was a child, I’ve always been building things with my hands. My mom would often give me scraps that she would collect around the house because she knew I would use them to make something.
I graduated from UTSA with Cum Laude honors and built a strong relationship with my classmates and professors.
Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
Which Latina/x architect/artist influenced you the most as an emerging professional?
Amongst the people that have guided me throughout my career, there is a name that stands out the most. Her name is Siboney Díaz-Sánchez. I first got to meet her during a Studio review during my senior year of undergraduate school. When she critiqued my work, we got to connect with our ideas on how to make the project better. Afterwards, I got to work on the same firm as her and from then on, our friendship began.
Siboney has always been an icon for advocacy and design justice. Through her work and spirit, she would address social issues around the most impoverished areas in San Antonio, Texas. She also introduced me to Latinos in Architecture, a volunteer group that helps connect Latinx architects in the profession and offers design services to different organizations that need it. Siboney even shared her own experiences with me and gave me advice on how to approach my college applications for graduate school. She is now a member of the Rose Fellow at OppCo in Boston, Massachusetts, and continues to do amazing work that inspires me every day.
During study abroad I developed a style of sketching that since then has helped me be a much stronger designer. (Sketch in Valencia, Spain. Summer 2017).
Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
Name a favorite project completed by a Latina/x Architect. Why is it your favorite?
My favorite project is “El Monumento a la Mexicanidad” situated in Ciudad Juarez, more commonly called “La X,” by Enrique Carbajal. This Mexican artist envisioned a monument that is now 210 feet tall and lies on the southern edge of the border in between Mexico and the United States. It was built in the spring of 2013 and since then its recognizable red metal frame has transformed the city and has brought a noticeable urban activity to the place. Prior to this project, the city did not have a safe open space where people could come together for concerts, fairs, and other kinds of social events. Since its construction, this monument has been a significant contribution to the peace renewal that the city has been searching for during the past few decades. For Juarenses, “La X” is a symbol of pride and hope.
“El Monumento a la Mexicanidad” or “La X” located in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuaha. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
Are there any organizations that helped you grow in architecture?
There is no doubt that my education at UTSA during undergraduate school has been the core of my development as an architectural designer. However, working at Overland Partners offered me the chance to acquire professional experience in all the design phases. I got to work closely with an outstanding team of architects and learned the dynamics of communicating with clients and consultants. While working at the firm I was part of projects such as the Houston Botanic Garden, the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, the Fierce Whiskers Austin Distillery, and most recently UTSA’s newest downtown campus addition, the School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center. These experiences equipped to speak up about design concerns and contribute to the sharing of new ideas when working on a project. Working at Overland Partners has put me a step closer to getting licensed and hopefully become an inspiration for other young women working towards the same goal.
I did my study abroad during undergraduate in Urbino, Italy. While I was there I got to travel all over Italy, as well as other parts of Europe. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
In summer 2018 I got to do a major trip with my brother across parts of Asia, Russsia, and Europe. The trip lasted more than a month and we got to visit 8 countries in total. I also learned to scuba dive during this trip. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
How does your culture affect the way you design?
Once I learned to think of my heritage as an advantage in the field of architecture, I began to realize that as a minority we have a unique position to provide inclusive urban spaces. Being a Latina has allowed me to recognize inequalities in our built environment that encourage many of the social issues revealed in the year 2020. Despite their social and economy status, I believe that all communities have traditions and values that are worthy of learning from as means of producing innovative design solutions. Therefore, through my designs I consider the challenges I personally had to overcome while getting established in the U.S. and use I that strength to advocate for an architecture that supports the common people. In my opinion, outstanding architecture captures the best parts of society and in return gives back functionality and beauty.
My first professional job was at Overland Partners as an architectural intern. I was able to secure my new job before graduating from UTSA. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
If you would talk to your younger self, what advice would you give yourself?
I would say to continue working hard but to remember that making good designs is not enough. It is as important to voice your opinion and make connections with other colleagues or professionals that are interested on amplifying that voice. It is also always important to form a group of “ambassadors” that will look out for your best interest and not just expect work out of you. I would remind myself to not feel discourage because English is my second language or because the industry overall lacks Latina architects in leadership positions. And I would encourage myself to be more involved in organizations that tackle diverse issues in architecture.
At Overland Partners I got to work on different design phases of several projects, including construction documents and construction administration. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
What do you want to say to the next generation of Latina/x architects?
If you feel discourage because there is not enough representation of Latina/x architects in leadership positions, don’t be. This is the time to rise up and be the change you want to see in our industry. As a designer you literally have the ability and responsibility to the change the way that buildings perform. But more importantly don’t forget your values and were you come from, this will give you integrity and authenticity in everything that you, including your designs.
My favorite porfolio project is the San Antonio Cultural Center (SACC) because it pushed me to think about Hispanic/Latin Heritage in the U.S. ; and explore how architecturally we can help people celebrate their cultural traditions and assets. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
This is a theoretical project in which the Indian Stepwell typology was combined with mixed-use spaces to make a unifying and highly sustainable micro community suitable for the American lifestyle. - Courtesy of Anagisel Toscano Ramos.
