In memoriam. Hermilo Salas Espíndola

The UNESCO Chair on Sustainability bids a deeply saddened farewell to Dr Hermilo Salas Espíndola

It is with profound sadness that the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UNESCOSOST) mourns the passing of Dr Hermilo Salas Espíndola, who for many years coordinated the UNESCOSOST Office in Mexico, was a tireless collaborator of our Chair, and was a leading figure in architecture, urban planning and sustainability in Mexico.

Hermilo’s loss leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. For many years, he was an essential part of the UNESCOSOST family, helping from Mexico to build bridges between universities, institutions and people, and contributing to the consolidation of an international network committed to a more sustainable, just and humane way of understanding territories, cities and our relationship with the environment.

Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him know that Hermilo was far more than his extraordinary academic and professional career. He was warm, generous, energetic and deeply human. Those who shared meetings, projects, journeys or simply a conversation with him will never forget his open smile and his loud, infectious laughter, capable of transforming any encounter and conveying the warmth, enthusiasm and joy that were so much a part of him. That unique way he had of being with others will forever remain inseparable from our memory of him.

Hermilo was also a true university scholar in the deepest sense of the term. A Doctor of Architecture and professor and researcher at the Faculty of Architecture of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) since 1969, he devoted more than half a century to teaching, research and the education of new generations of architects and urban planners. He was the founder of the Field of Knowledge in Economics, Politics and Environment and was responsible for the Sustainable Design area within UNAM’s Master’s and Doctoral programmes in Architecture and Urbanism. Throughout his extensive professional career, he participated in more than 80 architectural projects and supervised more than 35 Master’s theses and 15 doctoral dissertations.

Yet figures and academic achievements tell only part of his legacy. Hermilo’s true legacy also lives on in all the people he educated, inspired and supported throughout his life. Generations of students, researchers and professionals learned from his experience and knowledge, but also from his conviction that architecture and urban planning must remain inseparably linked to environmental, social and human responsibility.

At the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability, we had the privilege of sharing this vision with him. Hermilo understood from an early stage that sustainability requires us to transcend disciplinary and geographical boundaries, create spaces for dialogue and cooperation and, above all, bring together people willing to work collectively to transform reality. Through the UNESCOSOST Office in Mexico, he contributed to this mission for many years, strengthening the values of our Chair and creating relationships that have endured far beyond the individual projects in which he participated.

Perhaps it is precisely this combination of academic excellence, commitment and humanity that best defines what Hermilo meant to our community. He was not only a highly respected professor and architect. He was also a companion on our journey, a friend, and one of those rare people who leave a profound mark on all those fortunate enough to know them.

Today, we say farewell to a great architect, a great professor and a man deeply committed to the university and to building a more sustainable future. But above all, we say farewell to someone who was deeply loved.

His work and his teaching remain with us, as does everything he planted in his students, colleagues and collaborators, and the extensive network of people and institutions he helped to build. Above all, however, we are left with the memories of so many years shared together: projects, conversations, encounters, journeys, ideas, hopes and moments that are now part of the history of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability.

From UNESCOSOST network, we wish to express our affection and our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, to his colleagues at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, to his students, and to all those who had the privilege of knowing him, learning from him and sharing part of life’s journey by his side.

Thank you for all these years, Hermilo.Thank you for your commitment, your generosity, your friendship and for everything you have left us.We will miss your voice, your enthusiasm and, most especially, your smile and that unmistakable laughter we shared so many times.Your legacy will remain forever in those of us who knew you and will continue to be part of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability.

Rest in peace.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•