Sergio Duran

"The 'individual", a process rather than an entity, ever becoming one thing after another and never stopping to become any one of its transient aspects, is like Heraclitus' river into which you can never step a second time"

Ananda Coomaraswami

"The Mission from the moment we are born, the most important preoccupation we undertake, other than avoiding death itself, is an incessant search for identity. The obsession for knowing who we are, ephemeral even to the most self assured, is a never ending scenario in which no single character is safe or sane and whatever paths are explored, we always seem to return to the very same place we have always known, the very same point of departure."

Sergio Duran - "An Embassy Without A Country"


The brightest light of our life was dimmed without our permission…
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that the families of Duran and Shabestari announce the sudden death of Sergio Duran on Tuesday August 30th, 2016 at the age of 59 from a massive heart attack. A loving husband and father, and an accomplished architect, academician and artist.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 35 years, Nazila, and his cherished daughter, Dia, at the impressionable age of eleven in whose hearts and eyes his bright light and legacy shall forever shine and construct the social and physical architecture that he envisioned; by his father Ignacio Duran Ceballos-Montero, his brothers Jose Andreu; Ignacio, John, and Michael Duran. He is preceded in death by his mother Carmen Ortiz.

His life will be celebrated on Monday September 5, 2016 at the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens. In the spirit of introspective journey of our self identity please experience the serene gardens surrounding this understated architectural icon; The Julia Morgan Building. Guests are invited to roam the gardens anytime from 9 am until the memorial begins promptly at 2pm. Lunch will be served thereafter on the Terrace.

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720

Parking is available directly in front of the gardens. Overflow parking is available at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Shuttle service will be provided until 1:45pm.

In honor of Sergio Duran donations can be made to "Smile Train". Follow the link and select "This is an Honorary Gift In Memory Of" and add his name and Nazila's contact information so she will be notified of your contribution.