The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) in collaboration with the Cities Programme of the London School of Economics (LSE) presents a lecture by Teddy Cruz on Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 6:30pm in London, England. Teddy Cruz is the recipient of the 2004-2005 Stirling Lecture prize for “Border Postcards: Chronicles from the Edge,” a project advancing new urban strategies for the border zone spanning San Diego and Tijuana. Presented at the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House, London School of Economics, this lecture concludes the first bi-annual James Stirling Memorial Lectures on the City program, following presentations at the CCA in October 2004 and the Van Alen Institute, New York, in April 2005. Admission is free.
Teddy Cruz is a Guatemalan-born architect and founding principal of Estudio Teddy Cruz in San Diego. His Stirling Lecture explores the perennial alliance between systems of control and urbanization that is re-enacted in the San Diego/Tijuana border region as the United States hardens the wall against its Mexican neighbour, transforming San Diego into the world’s largest gated community. The lecture focuses on geographies of conflict such as this one, which become sites where alternative, participatory architectural practices can emerge to challenge established urban policy and expose the discriminatory socio-political and economic histories of land use that shape our notions of housing, city, and territory.
The event is chaired by Edward Soja, Visting Professor of Sociology LSE, and Professor of Urban Planning UCLA, and a member of the 2004-2005 Stirling Lectures jury.
Conceived in homage to architect James Stirling, who believed that urban design is integral to the practice of architecture and a vital topic for public debate, the James Stirling Memorial Lectures on the City competition was established to create a unique forum for the advancement of critical perspectives on the role of urban design and urban architecture in the development of the urban environment worldwide.
The call for submissions for the 2005-2006 James Stirling Memorial Lecture on the City is soon to be announced.
For more information visit www.cca.qc.ca/stirling.