I am a Dissertation Fellow in the Architecture Department at Texas A&M University. My current research focuses on the role of incremental housing production in segregation by income on the U.S. - Mexico border. My overall interest is in the role of architecture and urbanism in spatial discrimination of marginalized groups. My scholarly work incorporates aspects of housing studies, infrastructure studies, theories of justice in the city, and urban sociology.
( 01 )
Education
Expected December 2019
Ph.D. in Architecture, Texas A&M University
Dissertation: The Relationship between Housing Segregation and Housing Production on the U.S. - Mexico border.
Advisors: Dr. Stephen Caffey, Dr. Cecilia Giusti, Dr. Shannon Van Zandt, Prof. Michael O'Brien
May 2019
Master of Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
Thesis: Environmental and Regulatory Risk Characteristics associated with the spread of Chagas Disease in the Rio Grande Valley
Advisors: Dr. Cecilia Giusti, Dr. Shannon Van Zandt, Dr. Stephen Caffey
June 2011
Diploma in Architecture (RIBA 2) The Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design
Design thesis: How to build better colonias in Texas
Advisors: Prof. Robert Mull, Catrina Beevor, Prof. Peter Carl.
( 02 )
Publications
2019
Modernism on the United States - Mexico border
1920 - 1970: Architecture of exploitation. In F. Lara & R. Loredo (Eds.), Architecture and Forced Exploitation: The Gulf of Mexico, 1920-1970.
Safarova, B., & Ledesma, E
Publisher: Ciudad Victoria COLOFON / Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas.
[copy available upon request]
Revise Resubmit
Standard Inequality: The Quiet Role Standardization Plays in Housing Segregation
Journal: Technology | Architecture + Design
[copy available upon request]
Summer 2015
Dialogo on the Border: Planning for Latino Communities in South Texas
Ledesma, E., Giusti, C., Safarova, B., Vasquez, L., & Valles Rojas, E.
Journal: Progressive Planning, Summer (204).
[pdf]
2015
Learning from Collaborative Integration: The Hackathon as Design Charrette
Safarova, B., Ledesma, E., Luhan, G., Caffey, S., & Cecilia Giusti.
Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. Vienna, Austria
( 03 )
Competitions / Exhibitions
2014
UC Berkeley Big Ideas Competition
Our team project Colonias Unidas 2.0 was selected from over 180 submissions as a finalist in 2014.
2012
ARUP : Resilient Cities Competition
Runner up with the project: Learning from Lagos in the competition organized by ARUP and Engineers without Borders UK.
2011
Royal Society for Arts: Resourceful Architect
My design thesis: Pavement for Las Lomas, Cass School in London was a runner up in the competition.
2003
House without Walls
I took part in the Architecture Summer School at the Faculty of Art & Architecture in Liberec, Czech Rep.
2002 -2003
Applied Photography, Czech Republic
I was enrolled in a Photography studio at the Faculty of Applied Arts & Design in Usti nad Labem.
( 04 )
Professional Experience
2012 - 2016
Buchan Group & Portland Desing, London
During my Ph.D. studies, I worked as a summer term designer and commercial masterplanner in London.
2005 - 2012
Brooks/Murray Architects, London
Throughout my studies in London, I worked as an architectural assistant on mostly residential projects.
( 05 )
Pedagogy
2014 -2018
Diversity Hackathons
As a Research Assistant on the Diversity Council I organized four Diversity Hackathons / BuildDays: 24hr ideas competitions to enhance inclusion at Texas A&M.
2013 - 2015
Instructor of Record, Design Communication Foundation, Dept. of Architecture, Texas A&M
Undergraduate studio-format class of 20 students. Students learned throughout their freshman year foundation of visual communication: graphic design, typography, color theory, architectural drawing conventions, photography, 3D modelling, rendering, portfolio making, laser cutting.
2017 - 2018
Teaching Assistant, Land Development, Dept. of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning
Undergraduate course on economic development, where I served as a grader for written assignments. This course was listed as a writing intensive course.
Fall 2015
Teaching Assistant, Visual Communication, Dept. of Architecture
Graduate studio-format class of 5 students who transferred into architecture from other majors. The one semester-long course was an intensive course from zero to graduate level visual communication skills.
( 06 )
Awards & Fellowships [more]
June, 2018
Texas A&M University Dissertation Fellowship for 2018 -2019
Awarded by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. The fellowship is to support Ph.D. candidates in their final year of study with full funding. Fifteen fellows are selected annually based on academic performance, potential impact of scholarly work and financial need.
May, 2018
Partners in Learning Award of Excellence
This award is one of the Texas A&M University ACE Awards (Accountability, Climate, and Equity) and was sponsored by the Department of Disability Services. The award recognizes a staff member, faculty member, or administrator who has actively removed barriers for students with disabilities on campus. more info
2016, 2017, 2018
Campus Climate Grant
Sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Services. This grant was awarded three times to the Diversity Council to support activities that promote inclusive campus climate. These grants were awarded in support of Diversity Hackathons in 2016, 2017, and 2018.