Despite a border wall, children at the southern border between Mexico’s Chihuahua State and America’s El Paso, Texas, had a chance to play together this week after two architects built a number of seesaws through the metal fence.
Ronald Rael, an architecture professor at the University of California, and Virginia San Fratello, an assistant professor at San José State University, came up with the seesaw project together, according to the social media posts shared by the architects.
“The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. - Mexico relations and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side,” said Rael in an Instagram post that showed three pink seesaw across the border fence with children taking turns on both sides to play together.
Rael mentioned that the conceptual drawings of the seesaw border wall were done in 2009 by the two architects.
“One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s (Virginia San Fratello) career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the border wall,” wrote Rael.
Fratello shared three pictures of children enjoying themselves on the seesaws on her Instagram, captioning the pictures as “joy ... togetherness ... happiness”
With another picture of Rael at the seesaw, she wrote: “Teeter tottering on the border wall.”
Rael is the author of the book “Border Wall Architecture.” The FAQs on the book’s website say that the book is a field guide to the already existing 650 miles of border fencing.
According to the website, the book “proposes design solutions that build alongside, directly on, or in place of the existing wall, as a way to repair the damage caused by the wall.”
Rael thanked everyone who turned up at the site and made the project possible.
“Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families,” he wrote.
