4. June 2024
Photo: Screenshot from “El Luchador”
The fifth edition of Living Places - Simon Architecture Prize launched at the end of May at Simon Company's headquarters in Barcelona. The event was accompanied by a new short film, “El Luchador,” that features a professional wrestler inside Agustín Hernández's famous Taller de Arquitectura in Mexico City.
“El Luchador” was created by René Baptista, Tito Sánchez, and RA! Arquitectos for the Simon Company, whose biennial architecture prize that goes under the name Living Places “aims to recognize excellence in architecture,” specifically “those works which strengthen the ability of adaptability of spaces to reach comfort and well-being to its residents.” Simon, with the experience of Fundació Mies van der Rohe, opened nominations on May 29 and is inviting architects, clients, and collabotors to nominate works before the September 16 deadline; details are on the Simon Prize website.
“El Luchador” by René Baptista, Tito Sánchez, and RA! Arquitectos
Winner of “Best Audiovisual Narrative” in the prize's 2022 edition was Mexico City's RA! Arquitectos, who were then commissioned to create the 2024 launch video. While their earlier film, “El Trappo” (below), takes place inside the studio's small Taquería Los Alexis project, the architects set “El Luchador” (above) in the 54-year-old studio of architect Agustín Hernández. Located in the Bosqueds de las Lomas neighborhood of Mexico City, the concrete building with 60-degree facades is a structural tour de force. In the hands of RA!, it is the setting for some rather mundane and funny activities for professional wrestler Guerrero Aguila Tule, but also a fantastical wrestling match.