02 HILO DE LA VIDA

from Vanny Vaquerano Interior Design Portfolio 2023

03 ARTIST ATELIER

Reynosa, Mexico | 1 week |Revit |IDEC Competition Team: Riley Manetz, Grace Osman, Judy Medrano

The design of this refugee environment is an expression of continuity and fluidity and it seeks to meet the need for constant adaptation. The phrase “Hilo de la Vida” means "thread of life"; it’s representative of the passage to a new life. The thread is symbolic of the migrants’ journey and pays homage to Mayan weaving practices.

Senda de Vida, “Path of Life,” is an organization in Reynosa, Mexico, helping newly expelled migrants apply to seek asylum in the US with the help of immigration lawyers. The site is located on the Rio Grande, where over 1,200 migrants live along the bank in tents. Many migrants flee to escape gang violence and climate degradation and to seek economic opportunity in the United States. The concept focuses on the shifting experiences and the thread that follows migrants from one area to the next.

My role in this project consisted of concept development, axonometric and diagram design, and Central American migration patterns research. I created the journey map and the graphic map on gang presence in San Pedro Sula.

Concept Diagrams

Narrative

Suyapa is the single mother of a 6-yearold girl and a 2-year-old boy. They fled from their hometown, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the second-largest city in the country and the most violent city in the world. Their goal is to reach the US for a better life. During their journey, they travel through Guatemala and Mexico. They cross the Usumacinta River on a raft made of wooden pallets. As they enter Mexico, Suyapa must risk her and her children’s lives jumping onto the infamous La Bestia also known as “The Train of Death.” They encounter corruption as the Mexican cartel often charge migrants to board. Finally, they attempt to cross the Rio Grande, where 30 bodies have been rescued each month since March 2022.

Gang Presence in San Pedro Sula

San Pedro Sula is considered one the most violent cities in the world due to gang prescence and police corruption. Hundreds of migrants leave San Pedro Sula and seek refugee in the US in hopes of a new beginning for their children.

Materials

1. LOCALLY SOURCED CLAY

Local materials were used in order to minimize cost and time as the design’s purpose is to house refugees temporarily.

BEDROOM + FLEX AREA

The bedroom is designed for one mother and her small children. A trundle bed is included to allow for more bed space and storage. Overhead storage and hooks are provided for any belongings.

The flex area can be turned into a play area for kids or a secondary location for sleeping. Lattice screens are used throughout the space to allow the family to adjust the space as they see fit. Lattice screens are also used to facilitate air flow in hot climate and bring fresh air from the exterior. Bright colors are used to mimic Mexican architecture and colorful environments.

The origin of Mayan weaving comes from the story of Ixchel, Goddess of the Moon, bestowing her knowledge of weaving upon Mayan women. Ixchel grants the power of birth, life, and creativity. The backstrap loom is portable and symbolic of the human body. The bottom beam is attached to the navel of the weaver’s waist. Mayan textiles are created traditionally by women, and the connection of the loom at the navel represents birth and creation. Mayan weaving has become a tradition and is taught from mother to daughter. As women weave, they are participating in ancient sacred practices while maintaining cultural continuity.