San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Architects thrive on both sides of border
Heleo’s straightforward aesthetic works well in a variety of contexts, whether in City Heights or Tijuana
Barbara Leon and Carlos Hernandez are the co-founders and principals of Heleo Architecture & Design.
Raised on both sides of the border, immersed in experimental and sustainable architecture since they met as students at SCI-ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture), Carlos Hernandez and Barbara Leon are making their mark in San Diego and Tijuana since forming Heleo Architecture & Design in 2015.
Their straightforward aesthetic will be 12 long- and short-term works well in a variety of contexts: rental units in Tijuana within strong forms in materials such as walking distance of the border. steel, wood and concrete, each It will support “a trans-border project tailored to a neighborhood’s lifestyle for working-class residents proportions, textures and crossing the border daily scale, whether in City Heights, to work in the U.S., as well as Tijuana or South Park. temporary visitors coming south
“We want our buildings to be to receive medical services.” In functional, adaptable and of their South Park, a lot split will result time,” Hernandez said. “They in a single-family home and two should relate in some way to their accessory dwelling units (one of context, and our passion is to them consisting of the repurposed create spaces that engage the small existing home). community that surrounds them.” The idea of designing buildings
Earlier this year, Heleo won to suit a neighborhood’s character awards from the American Institute — which often involves reusing of Architects for Sage & Fire, a what’s already there — is something cannabis boutique near Lone Pine, the architects experienced and for the Cervecería Insurgente firsthand at SCI-ARC’S campus in brewery in Tijuana. It has also the former Santa Fe Freight Depot designed seven Urbn Leaf cannabis in Los Angeles’ downtown arts stores in San Diego, Grover Beach, district.
West Hollywood and San Jose. “SCI-ARC had a large impact,”
Projects on the boards at its Hernandez said. “The industrial downtown studio on Kettner Boulevard, landscape in a way permeates the where jazz or classical music minds and projects the students often streams, include an Izola dough are developing. The depot had factory, a retail store and a cafe in layers of history. It is a concrete City Heights. Also on tap is Sycuan’s structure layered with steel and Sessions by the Bay “cannabis consumption glass to carve out spaces and lounge,” a striking repurposing circulation. There was something of the former California very pure about it, and it fostered College San Diego complex in an environment of creativity and National City, with lounge spaces, experimentation.” retail areas, an immersive cannabis SCI-ARC was an early proponent exhibit and outdoor seating. of new technologies, and Heleo’s studio is well equipped. Heleo uses AI to suggest design possibilities, such as variations of a prototype for a 3D-printed house
‘Creativity and experimentation’
Heleo is also moving into development. Conjunto Libertad
Cervecería Insurgente in Tijuana, designed by Heleo, won an award from the American Institute of Architects.
A residence designed by Heleo Architecture & Design.