Building Optimism: Public Space in South America

for Heinz Architectural Center

In recent years, ambitious design for urban life in South America has shown a radical optimism—a belief that planning can strengthen neighborhoods and improve lives. Spanning projects in Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, this exhibition investigated ways that emerging architects instigate change through design. To combat the yellow walls and ornate decoration of the galleries, sheets of plywood were silkscreened with color-coded graphics and “wheat-pasted” with text panels. For the reading guide, curator Raymund Ryan edited articles by some of the architects featured in the show. Each was separated by photographs by Iwan Baan and Leonardo Finotti and stills from videos by Cristobal Palma, Tapio Snellman and OnArchitecture. 7 x 11 inches, 48 pages. Exhibition photos by Bryan Conley.