VIRTUAL Barcelona

Abstract

The Transborder Association of Architectural Education (TAAE) presents a collaborative examination of the nexus between architectural education and the border context, challenging the sideline approach of educational institutions in shaping urban environments, and delving into historical, contemporary, and future perspectives within the San Diego-Tijuana region. In this exploration, TAAE envisions a redefined architectural education responsive to the intricate dynamics of the borderland, committed to fostering interconnected and inclusive practices. As a collective intertwining grassroots initiatives with opportunistic urban planning strategies, transcending limitations posed by hierarchical decision-making structures, TAAE brings together diverse community members, theorists, and practitioners, aiming to transcend the divisive paradigms of the border as a static duality. This exploration navigates enduring systemic shifts through participation in the international intersection of two vastly different approaches to city planning. The discourse will spotlight the pivotal role of transient horizons within the urban border region, extending beyond the notion of territorial boundaries to encompass critical aspects such as emerging border typologies, the nuanced effects of transborder interactions in the pursuit of affordable housing, and the involvement of transnational corporations in social entrepreneurship initiatives within deportee communities. TAAE aims to contribute nuanced perspectives, advocating for transformative governance frameworks that integrate community-driven initiatives with visionary, systemic urban planning strategies. These insights offer potential approaches applicable to other parallel border regions. The presentation is a reflection aiming to unearth the complex narratives embedded in a territory that is never neutral, challenging assumed spatial narratives and striving to reveal the underlying complexities of the border as a method.