THIS WEEK'S GUESTS.
Comunal Taller - Mexico. Founded by Mariana Ordóñez Grajales and Jesica Amescua Carrera, Comunal is an architecture studio whose practice is deeply rooted in negotiation processes between consensus and dissent. They work against the notion of authorship as a static, artistic, and unchangeable object, viewing architecture instead as a social, collaborative, living, open, and constantly evolving process. They treat inhabitants as active subjects rather than objects of intervention. In their projects, they encourage and facilitate the participation of women—adults, youth, and children—in strategic, administrative, and construction processes, understanding the logic, performance, and collective definitions of these women and their community, while always respecting their cultural context.
THE COURSE
The course aims to expand the repertoire of contemporary architectural production by considering the urgent need for new, fundamentally counter-hegemonic perspectives. We focus on the work of architects from Global South countries, their repertoires, and the debate surrounding what is being built in these regions and how. The idea behind these meetings is to have a more direct conversation about the issues posed by diverse territories, societies, and cultures. We will explore in greater detail the processes and decisions made in each project, using more detailed documentation than what is typically found in publications, thereby addressing structural reflections and urgent themes. The program consists of eight conversations in which invited architects are prompted to reflect on their own work by presenting two projects—one built and one unbuilt. The two course instructors will moderate these conversations, pushing the necessary reflections to effectively discuss both the common and unique issues of each context. Furthermore, the selection of these practices aligns with the course's objectives, respecting gender, racial, and territorial diversity.
