Personal profile
Biography
Leandro Minuchin was born in Rosario, Argentina. In 2002 he was awarded a Licenciatura in Political Science from the National University of Rosario (first). In 2005 he obtained a MA in Latin American Studies from the University of Salamanca (distinction) where he focused on urban politics and the production of urban infrastructure in neoliberal Buenos Aires. Also in 2005, he completed a MSc in Modernity, Space and Place at UCL (distinction), working on urban political ecology and the emergence of urban discourse in Buenos Aires. In 2010 he completed his PhD, funded by the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Award, on material imaginations and political theory at the Urban Laboratory, UCL. He joined MARC as a Lecturer in Architecture and Global Urbanism in August, 2010.
Further information
Leandro's research focuses on the politics of construction and the role infrastructural repertoires play in the consolidation of extended networks of solidarity and association. He investigates how social movements, construction firms, local organisations and developers use the moment of construction to prefigure territorial articulations. He is currently exploring alternative construction practices in Argentina and Ecuador. He has been involved in creating multiple collaborative platforms to investigate and develop alternative urban interventions. He created Material Politics, an architectural research practice that focuses on the fabrication of radical infraestructures.
My research interests revolve around four interrelated themes
Politics of construction: infrastructural repertoires, social movements and local politics
Material imaginations: the role of construction in the crafting of urban futures in Latin America
Material histories: modern architecture, concrete and the invention of urban natures
New materialisms: assemblages, articulation, prefiguration and the moment of construction as theoretical fields
Opportunities
I welcome phd proposals addressing these topics:
The politics of construction
Construction practices in Latin America. Building cooperatives, construction firms and materiality as a site for experimentation and organization.Material networks, techno-popular knowledges of construction and land-struggle in Latin America. Construction and the repertoire for contentious politics.
Prefigurative urbanisms and modes of urban activism
Urban social movements, anti-capitalist manifestos and local politics. Urban infrastructures as repertoires for collective aciton.
New materialisms
post-foundational theories, articulation, assemblages, prefiguration and construction as theoretical nodes.
Material methodologies
Alternative methods in architecture research, construction and action research. Material and visual ethnographies.
Teaching
Current
Prefigurative architectures (MArch). First term. Convenor
Materials, methods and the city. Convenor.
Research Design and Practice (SEED, PhDs). First term. Course co-ordinator
Qualitative tactics (SEED, PhDs). Second term. Course co-ordinator
Quantitative tactics (SEED, PhDs). Second term. Course co-ordinator
Provocaciones urbanas (urban provocations), Faculty of Political Science, University of Rosario (Argentina). Interdisciplinary course (4th year). Collaborator.
Previous teaching
Contested Peripheries Studio (MArch). Studio tutor
World Urbanism (3rd year, BA in Architecture). Contributor
Areas of expertise
- F1201 Latin America (General)
- JC Political theory
- NA Architecture
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Manchester Urban Institute
Keywords
- New materialisms
- material politics
- urban social movements
- politics of construction
- prefiguration
- articulation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Logistics as method: design and pluriversal politics in Rosario
Minuchin, L., 4 Jul 2025, In: City. 29, 3-4, p. 615-627Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Logistical terrains: design, operations and social architecture in South America
Minuchin, L., 16 Nov 2024, In: The Journal of Architecture.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Counter-logistics and municipalism: Popular infrastructures during the pandemic in Rosario
Minuchin, L. & Maino, J., 19 Sept 2022, In: Urban Studies. 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
MUNICIPAL LOGISTICS: POPULAR INFRASTRUCTURES AND SOUTHERN URBANISMS DURING THE PANDEMIC
Minuchin, L., Maino, J., Bizzarri, M. J., Bertolaccini, L., Gomez, M. V. & Panero, C., Dec 2020, MINIM. 26 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review
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Repertorios prefigurativos: urbanización y acción colectiva en Latinoamérica
Minuchin, L. & Marti i Puig, S., 2019, In: Desacatos. 61, p. 8 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Projects
- 1 Finished
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The city co-produced: building inclusive infrastructures in Rosario
Minuchin, L. (PI), Mitlin, D. (CoI) & Stein Heinemann, A. (CoI)
1/02/18 → 30/04/18
Project: Research
Activities
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Spatial practice and Development
Minuchin, L. (Speaker)
9 May 2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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Urbanización planetaria: infraestructuras populares, construcción y política urbana
Minuchin, L. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2015Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda (MIDUVI) (External organisation)
Minuchin, L. (Academic expert member)
2014Activity: Membership › Membership of committee › Research
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International workshop on Construction, methods and the city
Minuchin, L. (Participant)
20 Mar 2013Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
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Provocaciones urbanas: estrategias de articulación especial para una ciudad dividida
Minuchin, L. (Participant)
2013Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
Impacts
Press/Media
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MIDUVI firmó convenio con Hogar de Cristo para la construcción de viviendas en Monte Sinaí
20/11/14
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
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