Ramon Moscoso

Ramon founded his company Mosarch Studio in 2008 following several years of working in respected Architectural firms in the San Diego area. Ramon grew up in both Mexico and San Diego CA and received a Bachelor degree of Architecture from Woodbury University in California. Throughout the years he has been recognized for his passion for Architecture, his creative vision, dedication and aesthetics for his building designs as well as the maximum utilization of great spaces. Ramon’s time with interior design company Design Line Interiors helped him develop excellent skills for space planning which allow him to work with small and large spaces creating beautiful functionally designed homes.

Ramon was born in Tijuana, BC. to a Mexican mother and Ecuadorian father who immigrated to the United States at 18 year old. He attended elementary school in Tijuana and started commuting daily to San Diego until his graduation from Hilltop High School. His parents were unfortunately unable to aid with his college education, which started at Southwestern College, thus with no financial support, Ramon balanced work and his studies in order to support his wife and baby. Transfering to Woodbury University, he graduated with a Bachelor in Architecture. 

After graduation, he worked for a few Architectural firms while putting in extra hours as a freelancer from home. When Ramon was laid off in the recession of 2008,  his side jobs became his full time job and Mosarch Studio was born. Struggling for many years through one of the hardest times to build a business in Architecture, Ramon continued to believe in himself. After about 4 years of working out of his bedroom, he was able to afford a small office, his efforts, dedication and perseverance paid off.  His devotion and passion brought his company to a place beyond his imagination, having started with remodels and small additions, today most of Mosarch’s work is in new Single Family homes and New Multi-Family projects all around San Diego including in La Jolla, Coronado and Rancho Santa Fe. Mosarch’s office is now located in Mission Hills with a team of four, he proudly considers his team a firm that listens and designs through unfolding modem spaces.

How did your interest in architecture develop, and how did that lead you to where you are now?

The idea to study Architecture started when I was six years old. In high school I noticed I had the gift to understand design and was very good at putting drawings together. My first real architectural classes were taken in my first year of college. Passion, devotion, discipline and a lot of hard work have taken me far in my career.

Can you share with our audience a favorite project you’ve worked on? How was this project impactful to you or the community it serves?

Island Living, an 8 unit Multifamily project in Coronado CA was our first multi-family project at this magnitude. I felt so much pressure with this project for two reasons, the first one was because it was a great opportunity to show what my company can really do and the second reason was because I did not have any previous experience working with larger multi-family projects. There are so many great Architects and companies building on this island which made me nervous not to be able to perform up to my client's expectations. I believe this project offers very unique Architectural spaces that no other similar project offers in Coronado. Even though The Coronado Planning Commission committee are very hard to please, I believe we have earned their respect and are starting to develop a good presence and recognition for our many great design projects on the Island.

Have you had a particular experience in your career that you feel could be seen as opportunities at moving the needle on Hispanic and Latinx leadership and licensure?

While struggling with my business in 2008, I was offered the opportunity to teach engineering at Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, CA. It made me realize the impact and the hope I was able to provide to many low income Latino students. I was asked many times by teachers to come to their classrooms and schools to talk about Architecture and the challenges that I came across to finish my career. I was surprised at the many students who were very moved by my stories.

“ I discovered that it gave me a lot of joy to be able to inspire young students that had low hopes in pursuing architecture as their careers “

Any advice for emerging professionals wanting to pursue architecture?

I believe architecture is a rewarding career with the opportunity to grow in so many different fields. Believe in yourself, eventually your efforts and dedication will pay off. I truly believe passion, devotion, discipline and a lot of hard work will bring success. 

Marcela Gracia

Marcela hails from the state of Sonora, in Mexico, and moved to the U.S to attend the University of Arizona. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Architecture where she was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal. In 2015, she received a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia. While in school, she was the Director of the AIAS Freedom by Design program, serving the community through design + build projects. After working in Arizona for some time, Marcela moved to San Diego in the summer of 2015 to join Studio E Architects, where she has continued serving the community by designing affordable housing and schools as part of her “wonderful team.”

How did your interest into architecture develop, and how did that lead you to where you are now?

The first thing that influenced me to go into Architecture, is that my mother is a Sociologist and my father is a Physician, so I was fortunate to grow up in a household where the social sciences, the arts, and the sciences were valued, discussed, and part of our everyday lives. I think the richness of that environment naturally lead me to a profession where so many elements that make our lives interesting converge, and to pursue a career where I could excercise my widely varied interests. The second part of this equation comes from my love of drawing. I've always drawn, formally and informally, for fun, and for work. I truly believe in the power of drawing to convey our ideas, change perceptions, and fill in the gaps between our words.

Can you share with our audience a favorite project you’ve worked on? How was this project impactful to you or the community it serves?

As part of the Studio E Architects team, I’ve had the fortune of working on a number of projects that provide supportive or affordable housing to communities that need them the most. It's hard to play favorites when you get to be part of creating buildings and spaces that are changing lives! My Graduate Thesis project has a special place in my heart; I looked at the wants, needs and aspirations of transient communities (students, field workers, migrants) and designed housing along a transient hub in Los Angeles. I spent six months doing research among those communities, understanding both their relationships to the spaces where they work and live in transiency, and the constraints of our more standard static living.

Have you had a particular experience in your career that you feel could be seen as opportunities at moving the needle on Hispanic and Latinx leadership and licensure?

The mere fact of having gotten licensed as a Latinx woman, being aware of the statistcs and the upward trend, feels like moving the needle to me. It feels like a grain of sand that will soon become a storm. I've also found a nurturing and supportive environment within my firm, one that has allowed me to explore my interests. I recently presented the start of a research project during San Diego Design Week, and I can't wait to further develop it and share it with you all!

Any advice for emerging professionals wanting to pursue architecture?

I have two things I'd like to stress. The first is that you must find a mentor, someone who can help when things get tough, when you have concerns, when you start to question your decisions.

“ There's people out there who have gone through what you're going through, who have had similar experiences. Go out and find them.”

The second is to remember that Architecture is more than the plans, the drawings, the clients. There's always more. You can find your passion within it, your "specialty" if you wish. Our profession is vast, generous, expansive. That's what's so special about it; there's a place for all of us. And if for some reason you can't find it, there's room to create it.

Alfonso R. Barragan

Alfonso R. Barragan was born in Sonora, Mexico, but grew up in the neighboring city of Tijuana, Baja California, where he currently lives. After graduating from High School, Alfonso decided to study Architecture in San Diego, beginning at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, and then transferring to NewSchool of Architecture + Design, where he graduated Cum Laude in 2014 . Shortly after graduation he joined Safdie Rabines Architects, where he has practiced for 8 years and is now a Principal of the firm. There, he has had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, from furniture design, to residential projects and master plans. However, he is mostly focused (and passioned) on developing single-family residential projects, where attention to detail is key.

How did your interest into architecture develop, and how did that lead you to where you are now?
Both of my parents studied architecture, therefore, it could be said I was born into an architecture-focused family. As a child, I remember visiting construction sites with my dad and helping my mom with her 3D models as something normal. Without knowing, this nurtured my passion for architecture, not to mention being always interested in construction sets and anything that could be designed and fabricated. As I grew up, I became more aware on how the built environment impacts us, and most importantly, how we have the ability to enhance it, making my career selection very clear.

Can you share with our audience a favorite project you’ve worked on? How was this project impactful to you or the community it serves?
Residential projects are one of my favorite typologies to work on, as I think they have a big impact on each one of us. Regardless of its scale, a well designed home improves our well-being, creates a better atmosphere to live, work and enjoy our daily lives. One of the projects I really enjoyed being part of was a 1950’s house renovation, where carefully placed gestures transformed a house into a home that embraced its context and provided its habitants with the opportunity to have indoor-outdoor experiences throughout. Most importantly, sustainable strategies can be achieved on all types of projects, not only on new construction.

Have you had a particular experience in your career that you feel could be seen as opportunities at moving the needle on Hispanic and Latinx leadership and licensure?

I believe one of the biggest challenges in the profession is getting licensed. In fact, I am going through the process myself! Nonetheless, I do feel it is something that needs to be encouraged into emerging graduates and assist them in any way possible.

Any advice for emerging professionals wanting to pursue architecture?

“The more I move forward in this career, the more I realize architecture is both art and science, requiring a balance between passion, care, technical knowledge, patience, and good communication.”

It is also very important to be open-minded and to always explore new ideas, new cultures and new places that will influence your creative process. After all, it’s this process where architecture is transformed from an concept to a building.