Accessible Architecture, Spanish Colonialism...and Native Plants! with Charlotte Rose

Charlotte Rose is a landscape architectural designer and researcher who works internationally at the intersection of design, social justice and activism. Her research explores how the built environment reflects and reproduces systems of power and what role designers can play in challenging oppression. She has worked on initiatives ranging from visual interpreting  - helping assist blind and low vision people in navigating public spaces - across the US, to Urban Design in Santiago, Chile, bioclimatic architectural design in the Philippines, and affordable housing in Ecuador. Currently based in North Eastern Brasil, Charlotte has been backpacking across Latin America since May 2025.

She spoke with us about the connection between architecture in Latin America and the United States, and how they are linked through Spanish Colonialism. We learned some amazing information about the benefits of using local and natural materials in the building process, and how we can make spaces more accessible for a wider variety of needs in the future.

You can find her at:

Website: www.designforsocialchange.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-rose-ab131626b/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rosay.char/

Thanks for listening and stay curious!