Matthew Avallone proposes ‘inhabitable park-scape’ for togetherness in Tijuana
Our Next Generation 2022 showcase shines a light on 22 outstanding graduates from around the globe, in seven creative fields. Here, we profile architecture graduate Matthew Avallone, from the Royal College of Art, UK
Matthew Avallone explores notions of displacement and reclamation of land in his graduate project ‘La Sagrada Familia: The Collective Unification of Tijuana’s Displaced Youth’.
The Royal College of Art (RCA) graduate’s thesis was subsequently nominated for a slew of awards, including RIBA’s Silver Medal, The Architect’s Journal Student Prize, RCA’s Head of Programme’s Prize, and RCA’s Image/Drawing Prize.
Avallone draws on his own upbringing. He grew up in San Diego, on the US side of Tijuana’s border, which is one of the most hostile international borders in the world for asylum seekers, he says. ‘I observed first hand the divide created in this context and the resulting physical and emotional displacement.’
His project zooms into the youth of Tijuana through La Sagrada Familia (‘Holy Family’), a group of artists, designers, and musicians who occupy and repurpose empty infrastructures across the city for artist studios, fashion shows, exhibitions, parties and protests.
The design is a 10,000 sq m vacant ‘inhabitable park-scape where DIY occupation manifests, allowing for uninhibited congregations, parties, protests, music, art and self-expression’.
It is realised through a choreographic ‘participatory excavation of the site’, explains Avallone. This digging ‘acts as a form of subversion to the politically charged locale’ as a mirrored inflatable canopy floats above the structure.
The drawings elaborately distort the horizon and site in such a way that structure and land become ritualistic excavations of liberation, not bound by border politics and therefore ‘unifying displaced youth and fighting feelings of limbo’.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Avallone is currently based in New York City. His research asks ‘what does it mean for architecture to be human centred?’ as he aims to bridge holistic and empathetic architectural design methods. He hopes to incorporate ‘localised research and relevant human stories into a project, while maintaining the design and artistic integrity’ in his practice.
Dream collaborators: Food New York and Playlab in Los Angeles, in line with an open, community-led approach.
INFORMATION
-
First look: Western Mongolia meets Kew Gardens in John Pawson and Oyuna Tserendorj’s cashmere throws
Architectural designer John Pawson and cashmere designer Oyuna Tserendor have collaborated on a cashmere throw collection inspired by Pawson’s 70m Lake Crossing in the Royal Botanical Gardens
By Scarlett Conlon Published
-
How to buy art: the accessible new market
Thanks to a growing pool of art advisers, digital intelligence and collector groups, buyers are better equipped than ever
By Annabel Keenan Published
-
The coolest design-led coffee shops in Seoul
Seoul counts more coffee shops per capita than any other city in the world – cut straight to our six must-visit spots
By Robert Schneider Published
-
Playfully transparent roof defines German Glass House escape
The Glass House by Sigurd Larsen, set amid nature outside Berlin, is an unconventional country home with a distinctive transparent roof
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Jaakko Torvinen and Elli Wendelin design transportable wooden building
Our Next Generation 2022 showcase shines a light on 22 outstanding graduates from around the globe. Here, we profile architecture graduates Jaakko Torvinen and Elli Wendelin from Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Finland
By Nasra Abdullahi Last updated
-
Kamal Ranchod uses architectural drawing to decolonise Egyptian history
Our Next Generation 2022 showcase shines a light on 22 outstanding graduates from around the globe, in seven creative fields. Here, we profile Kamal Ranchod, from the University of Johannesburg’s Graduate School of Architecture, South Africa
By Nasra Abdullahi Last updated
-
‘Cripping Architecture’: Shaina Yang reimagines the world for a different body type
Our Next Generation 2022 showcase shines a light on 22 outstanding graduates from around the globe, in seven creative fields. Here, we profile architecture graduate Shaina Yang from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, USA
By Nasra Abdullahi Last updated
-
Championing slow architecture with Manea Kella
Casa Popeea, a hotel in Romania, is a recent competion of London-based architecture studio Manea Kella and represents the practice’s take on slow architecture; a movement that favours crafts, simplicity, locality and sustainable architecture
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Architecture colours defining yesterday, today and tomorrow
‘Colour Memories’, a new exhibition by London’s Museum of Architecture, takes a look at the colours inspiring architects through time and personal experience
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Royal College of Art in London announces Herzog & de Meuron building and Kensington campus refresh
By Harriet Thorpe Last updated
-
Architecture
The next generation of architects and engineers exploring space and surface
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated