Roberto Jaime Deseda is a registered architect, interior designer, urban designer and educator with three master's degrees from Washington University in St. Louis in Architecture, Urban Design and Construction Management. Actively practicing architecture and design through highly bespoke residential, hospitality and cultural projects across the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the United States, his work spans architecture, interiors, urbanism, branding and fabrication, with a particular focus on projects where art, craft and architecture converge.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Roberto's research explores critical regionalism and the lack of deeply rooted architectural identity that plagues many tropical post-colonial societies. His work questions how repeated cultural and architectural resets through colonization and globalization have led to an imported architecture disconnected from climate, landscape, memory and local craft. Through both practice and teaching, he advocates for an architecture rooted in place that responds to culture, ecology and material traditions without resorting to nostalgia.
Roberto believes the strongest design is often quiet and confident. Rather than seeking spectacle, his work strives for clarity, restraint and graceful aging, where careful detailing, honest materials and simple ideas create spaces that resonate long after first impressions. He teaches architecture and urban design at Drexel University, where he encourages students to critically examine the relationship between place, identity and the built environment while developing thoughtful, context-driven design solutions.
Outside the studio, Roberto describes himself as an extroverted introvert - usually the first to start a conversation and the last to leave a gathering, yet happiest after spending a quiet day alone. This balance between curiosity and contemplation ultimately informs his design pedagogy.
M. Arch, Master of Construction Management, & Master of Urban Design, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO (2011)
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Minor in Art, Washington University in St. Louis (2006)