In the first semester of 2025, a team of fifth-year students transformed a 1997 Suzuki Super Carry into a mobile carpentry workshop. This vehicle, owned by architect and former professor Willy Muñoz’s father, is destined to bring hands-on learning to children in Villarrica and the surrounding Araucanía Region.
“Our goal was to provide him with a vehicle to transport his tools and materials to the various schools where he teaches his trade courses,” explains Professor Zúñiga. “The Super Carry, a classic Japanese car known for its utilitarian design, is incredibly versatile. We aimed to transform that potential into a mobile carpentry workshop, enabling Willy to teach his classes independently.”
The event welcomed Aldo Hidalgo, Dean of the Faculty, and David Cabrera, Director of the School. Professors Pablo Zúñiga and Jorge Lobiano took the opportunity to acknowledge everyone who made the project possible: the dedicated workshop students, Garage Usach scholarship recipients, and the collaborating companies that generously supplied materials.
One of the day’s highlights was the arrival of four other Super Carries, along with their drivers, who came to welcome the newest member of their “carrion” family. After the official handover of the keys, the community gathered to inspect the remodeled vehicle, appreciating the detailed transformations both inside and out.
Teamwork
According to Professor Pablo Zúñiga, this is not the first time that the Repair Workshop has served the community. In recent years, the course has been involved in various furniture remodeling initiatives for both Vega Central and Hacienda El Tangue, with the latter located in the Coquimbo Region.
However, according to Professor Zúñiga, “This is the largest project we’ve ever had because it involves an engine and a system that was largely unknown to the students. Just like in architecture, we integrated various systems—such as electricity, water, and air conditioning—in addition to working with fundamental design concepts: surfaces, coatings, interiors, and exteriors. Ultimately, it was about thinking about comfort, functionality, and livability. That was our first big challenge.”
To tackle the Super Carry repair, Professor Pablo Zúñiga explains that the course was organized into two main groups: one focused on the vehicle’s exterior and the other on its interior. “We approached this work like any vehicle repair and optimization workshop in the world,” he says. “Although students were grouped by their skills and interests, responsibility for the final result was shared. Each part progressed in parallel, but in constant dialogue with the other.”
Professor Zúñiga highlighted that a crucial part of the project involved classroom discussions about which repairs to undertake and which to discard. He explained, “We relied heavily on references, studying other adapted ‘carrions’ that featured common modifications like increased tire size and width, or added roof racks.” However, he noted that “completely original proposals also emerged, with hand-drawn sketches guiding the initial concepts.” Zúñiga emphasized a core principle of their work: “It’s essential to understand how we operate in our profession: focusing on the user, the place, and the program.”
A paramount aspect of the project, for Professor Pablo Zúñiga, was to truly encourage and push the development of each student’s specific skills. “It’s essential to pinpoint individual strengths and then actively work to enhance them,” he explains. “For example, one group was entirely responsible for the digital area, modeling the van and producing graphic material that turned into impressive videos and images. While they did participate in practical tasks too, this became a crucial responsibility within the project. This is how we made sure to distribute tasks according to what each student was good at and interested in.”