UNHIDDEN 

Danger thrives on ignorance. 

Type: Arch Out Loud Human Trafficking Awareness Competition 

Team: Ursula Trost | Stefani Fachini

Result: Finalist | 2017 

Location: Tenancingo, Mexico

The Competition: 

Unhidden re-imagines the Town Square of Tenancingo, Mexico, in response to the prevalent issues of sex trafficking existing in the area. In Tenancingo, human trafficking has become an industry sustaining both: the wealth of its citizens and international networks of illegal human exchange. This design investigates Architecture’s capacity to challenge such established exploitation.

Children and families are used to seeing human trafficking all over town. Unhidden seeks to alert and educate the people of Tenancingo by altering the perception of the visitor. Through the fog sculpture, one is transported into the mind and heart of the victims. As one wanders through the mediascape, the underlying kinetic sensors are activated and the spectacle reveals the plight of the victims, letting their voices be heard. This evokes an emotional connection with the victims which enriches social awareness, inspires conversation and fosters humanitarian mediation.

The urban fabric of the town also responds to this reality. Sex traffickers in the area own the biggest and tallest houses, while the rest of the population lack resources. Based on that, a bright and colorful atmosphere is formed during the day, engulfing the proposed soundscape for the town’s population. At night, the same space turns into a tall sculptural memorial that can be seen from the entire town, specially from the sex traffickers houses.

Publication: Night Rendering - Arch-Vizz | Architecture Visualization tutorial

The Project: 

Children and families are used to seeing human trafficking all over town… it has become a new normal. Unhidden seeks to alert and educate the people of Tenancingo by altering the perception of the visitor. Stepping into the fog, one is transported into the mind and heart of the victims, confused and unaware of what’s to come. 

During the day, a bright and colorful atmosphere is formed, engulfing the proposed soundscape. At night, the same space turns into a memorial that can be seen from the entire town. The spectacle reveals the plight of the victims—letting their voices be heard. As one wanders through the mediascape, the underlying kinetic sensors are activated and the stories of the victims begin. The sensory experience engages the visitors and invokes an emotional connection that enriches social awareness, inspires conversation and fosters humanitarian mediation.