The Architect Gastón Boero, dean of the ORT School of Architecture, and Dr. Michelle Fleitas, academic coordinator of the Real Estate Agent Program at the Faculty of Architecture of Universidad ORT Uruguay, appeared on the program “Agenda Abierta” on Radio Sarandí, where they spoke with Daniel Castro about professional training, new ways of living, technology, and the transformation of the real estate sector.
The conversation addressed some of the current challenges facing disciplines related to space, architecture, design, landscaping, and, in particular, the training of real estate professionals in a context of economic, cultural, and technological change.
During the discussion, Boero noted that the demand for these areas is not a passing trend, but rather the result of changes that have been taking hold at various levels: the dynamism of the real estate and construction sectors, changes in the ways we live and work , and a new social awareness toward issues such as sustainability, inclusion, climate change, and technology.
A demand linked to new ways of living and working
For Boero, the development of careers in interior design, landscape architecture, and real estate management is linked to a broader transformation in the way people live, work, and interact with spaces.
In the interview, the dean noted that the real estate and construction sectors continue to see significant levels of activity, driven by developed housing and large-scale projects. Added to this are new ways of living and working—such as working from home and coworking spaces—as well as cultural shifts related to sustainability, technology, and well-being.
As he explained, these factors lead not only to new construction but also to the need to adapt existing spaces. In this context, disciplines related to space take on greater importance because they allow us to address uses, expectations, and needs that are also changing.
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Expertise, trust, and ethics for the real estate industry
The conversation placed particular emphasis on the role of the real estate agent. Fleitas, in her capacity as academic coordinator of the program, raised the question of professionalization of the sector and the challenges faced those who are training to work in it.
Boero noted that the real estate sector is becoming increasingly complex, with a wider range of options and higher demands. In this context, he argued that real estate agents must no longer simply manage properties or connect buyers and sellers, but also support important decisions for individuals, families, businesses, and life plans.
“Behind every transaction there is a family looking for a home, a person hoping to change their way of life, and an entrepreneur who needs to find their place,” he said.
That is why, he added, training must provide technical tools, but also foster judgment, trust, and ethics. This perspective broadens the scope of the profession and positions the real estate agent as a key player in decisions involving assets, expectations, and ways of living.
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Learning by Doing: Technology and the World as a Classroom
Another key focus of the interview was how ORT’s School of Architecture approaches professional training across its various degree programs. Boero highlighted three central ideas: learning through practice, incorporating technological disruptions into the workflow, and looking beyond the local context.
In this regard, while explaining that theoretical knowledge and practical application must be integrated into the curriculum, the dean stated:
“You have to learn by doing.”
He also noted that artificial intelligence and other technologies should not be viewed merely as isolated tools, but rather as languages that future professionals must incorporate into their way of working.
In the same vein, he emphasized the importance of educating people who are capable of seeing the big picture. “We have to understand that the world is the classroom,” he said.
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An ecosystem of complementary disciplines
Toward the end, Fleitas highlighted the coordination efforts among the various programs within the School of Architecture, with the aim of strengthening an ecosystem where architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and real estate development are not viewed as isolated fields, but as complementary disciplines.
Boero agreed with this view and noted that this integration serves a common purpose: to help people live better.
From that perspective, he explained that each discipline contributes a unique way of anticipating, designing, and shaping spaces: landscape architecture in the relationship between nature and construction, interior design in the organization and experience of environments, architecture in the configuration of space, and real estate development in interpreting the market, opportunities, and the needs of those who will inhabit or use those places.
““For me, the goal is to help people live better,” Boero concluded.