The research began with an exploration of economic agreements and influences between

the United States of America and Mexico, specifically the border areas between

San Diego and Tijuana. The urban fabric differed on both sides, the San Diego side being

large strip mall buildings, while the Tijuana side consists of dense slum-like clusters

populated by low income housing, warehouses, and low cost factories (Maquiladoras),

exploited by huge corporations stationed in the United States. The physically

imposed border, is seemingly ignored on a daily basis, as workers and businessmen

cross it for work, then back over it to return home, proving a codependency between the

neighboring economies. This resulted in a structure consisting of two entities that are

codependent on one another. The idea of duality is emphasized by one structure being

formally rigid, while then being embraced by the second more fluid structure. The ribbon-like

skin which creates this fluid structure, is built of a perforated thermobimetal, which

twists to create the largest apertures above the border line, and progressively smaller

apertures in darker areas of the building.