Housing Ecologies: Conversations on Transborder Living
February 15, 2025.
Bread and Salt.
A public dialog with Renee Chow, Adriana Cuellar and Marcel Sánchez Prieto, and Teddy Cruz and Fonna Forman
In this Conversation Renee Chow, Dean and Professor at the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley, reflected on her research and design work, which addresses housing as a critical framework for urban living. Her presentation explored the intersections of typology, density, and community connectivity, providing insight into how architectural strategies can foster equitable and resilient neighborhoods.
Adriana Cuéllar and Marcel Sanchez Prieto discussed a series of architectural projects that navigate the socio-political dynamics of housing along the Mexico–U.S. border. Their work integrates community-centric collaborations with Mexico’s worker housing authority, INFONAVIT, and civic engagement initiatives, including a multi-use cultural and educational center in Tijuana and community-driven housing strategies in San Diego.
Political theorist Fonna Forman and architect and urbanist Teddy Cruz discussed their ongoing project, the UCSD Community Stations, a cross-border infrastructure of ecosocial sanctuary spaces, that integrate social housing, public space and practices of citizenship culture.
The Mexicali Experimental Project was made possible through the generous support of La Atalaya Foundation, haudenschildGarage Foundation, and the Conrad Prebys Foundation.
Major support for Housing Ecologies: Conversations on Transborder Living (and related educational programs and student fellowships) has been provided thorough a grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation.
Participants
Teddy Cruz & Fonna Forman, Renée Chow, Felipe Orensanz, and Adriana Cuéllar & Marcel Sánchez Prieto.