Integration vs Gentrification

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INTEGRA T/C ION

        By: Juan Pazmino and David Pelaez

How can a model of integration – in contrast of gentrification – be embodied in a series of sculptures that represent symmetrical power relationships? San Francisco’s technological boom over the last decade has caused a large influx of people from all around the world to move into the city. However, while this can have a positive impact in the city’s economy and social structures, it can have a negative impact when the lack of appropriate regulation is established in defense of the previous populations that were already inhabiting a certain space. One clear example of this situation is the Mission District in San Francisco.

The Mission District historically has been a melting pot of cultural diversity. History shows us that one culture has been imposed over another throughout the development of the neighborhood. When the San Franciscan mission arrived, the Ohlone People – native to the bay area- where forced to adopt the culture and traditions of those who where settling in their territory. Most of the cultural aspects and traditions of this indigenous community where lost, and along the way the possibility of a more diverse population was lost by imposing the ways of life of the missionaries. However, this opened the way for the evolution of the area as we know it today.

After the period of colonization, Mexican – Spanish families take over the lands in the form of ranchos, which quickly evolved as San Francisco expanded during the gold rush. The mission became a popular center of attractions, and along it, it became a residential center for woking class immigrants. This population shifts were intensified as the earthquake struck the city. Irish, Scandinavian, German, and Italian immigrants quickly settled in the neighborhood, as it became a commercial center of the city, causing a shift in the cultural character that the neighborhood had. After this, between the 40s and 60s, the increased migration of hispanic populations gave the Mission the Chicano/Latino culture we know today.

Throughout history, The Mission has experienced socio-economical changes that caused recurrent population shifts. With this, there has always been a population imposing over another one. Therefore, those cultures who were previously stablished lost representation. While the recurrent shifts have improved the economical situation of Mission, people and culture have been displaced. This has caused the demographics of the neighborhood to swing along heterogenous and homogenous populations. In the long-run, this forced displacement of people could happen again. But there is the possibility of creating integration of cultures, which could lead to an increasingly diverse population. Preserving cultures for the benefit of the neighborhood and its different ethnic populations.

We propose to create a series of sculptures that will embody the character of integration in the Mission District, between the chicano/latino populations and the newcomers. We will research the visual cues and characteristics from both sides and create three sculptures that will represent a harmonious relationship between them. Through materiality, form development, and cultural aesthetics, we hope to create a voice for this vision, and create a discussion about integration vs gentrification.

With collaboration of the Mission Cultural Center, we hope to identify the levels of engagement of newcomers with chicano culture through the arts. We want to understand how these distinct populations are currently engaging with each other, and how these organization can promote such engagement. We also hope to understand the cultural visual cues that represent each population and how to capture their essence. In this way, we hope to create multiple iterations of juxtapositions that can live in a harmonious way.

As designers we want to follow an iterative process and learn through making. This question that we raise to address a balanced solution also challenges our thinking to find that middle point.  We hope to develop these sculpture by researching, sketching, and prototyping. The outcome will be informed by the process.