What role does architecture play in reshaping our cities? How can cultural institutions actively contribute to urban transformation? And what does it take to design spaces that genuinely respond to their social, cultural, and territorial contexts?
These were the questions behind the panel discussion “The Transformation of Cities: Through Architecture and the Design of Cultural Institutions and Infrastructure,” held on August 18 at the Carlos Monsiváis Cinematheque in the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT).
Organized by La Caja Galería in partnership with The San Diego Museum of Art, Baja California’s Secretariat of Culture, and CECUT, the event drew a diverse crowd of students, educators, architects, designers, and cross-border cultural enthusiasts.
The conversation was led by two prominent figures: Marc Guberman, Senior Partner at the internationally renowned firm Foster + Partners, and Roxana Velázquez, Executive Director and CEO of The San Diego Museum of Art.
A key theme of the discussion was the relationship between architecture and its environment. Guberman emphasized that successful design requires a deep understanding of multiple layers from the immediate community and the broader cityscape to regional, state, and cultural contexts.
Designing, he said, it’s not about creating buildings but involves interpreting the unique dynamics, history, and needs of a place to create structures that resonate with their surroundings.
Much of the conversation centered on The San Diego Museum of Art’s ambitious expansion project, a milestone initiative marking the institution’s 100 years. With Foster + Partners at the helm of the architectural vision, the expansion is significant given the museum welcomes 650,000 binational and international visitors every year. It aims to offer a timely opportunity to examine how cultural institutions can shape urban life and strengthen cross-border ties between San Diego and Tijuana.
The forum also took a thought-provoking turn when Foster + Partners spoke about architecture beyond Earth, including research on habitable cities for the Moon and Mars. This exploration of extreme environments provided a compelling contrast to the pressing urban challenges facing Earth’s cities today.
The event closed with a Q&A session, during which architecture students posed questions on sustainability, emerging technologies, urban planning, space architecture, and career pathways for the next generation of designers.
For La Caja Galería, the forum represents a sustained commitment to fostering dialogue across the region’s artistic, academic, and professional communities. By leveraging Tijuana and San Diego’s unique binational position, the gallery aims to create a platform for cross-border exchange of ideas.
The collaboration between La Caja Galería, The San Diego Museum of Art, the Secretariat of Culture of Baja California, and CECUT brought together diverse perspectives in Tijuana around a question that transcends borders:
How do we want to design the cities of tomorrow?
