Under the Influence 011: Departamento del Distrito & Current Interests

Please join us for Under the Influence 011 — a conversation between Departamento del Distrito (Mexico City) and Current Interests (Los Angeles). The event will take place at the Sheats–Goldstein Residence, designed by John Lautner, and is presented in collaboration with Materials & Applications.

Under the Influence is a series of conversations that expands upon the concepts of Los Angeles Modernism. This radical movement rejected predetermined rules and embraced experimentation, striving for freedom of expression in all areas of culture. Modernism also catalyzed an interest in social equality, politics, healthy environments, new materials, and innovation, ushering design into a new and transformative era. The series brings together architects, artists, and designers from all over the world to engage in dialogue with local architects, landscape architects, and creatives in L.A.'s quintessential iconic modernist spaces. We aim to uncover the influence of this radical approach on today’s culture and will reflect on what we do next by bringing foreign and local voices into experimental and progressive conversations.

Two speakers are invited for each talk: one local and one from elsewhere. Each speaker will present their work, highlighting the experimental approach’s influence that Los Angeles Modernism set in motion. The presentation will be followed by a conversation among the speakers and with the audience.

Speakers: Departamento del Distrito (Mexico City) and Current Interests (Los Angeles)

Date: Sunday, September 7th, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Venue: Sheats–Goldstein Residence

Bios:

Departamento del Distrito

Departamento del Distrito is a Mexican-American office founded by Francisco Quiñones and Nathan Friedman in 2017, whose practice operates at the intersection of architecture, curatorial work, and academia. From an expanded vision of the discipline, their work explores the multiple relationships between subjects, objects, technologies, and politics, articulating spatial inquiries that connect diverse scales, temporalities, and geographies. Without formal or cultural prejudices, the projects of Departamento del Distrito are conceived as architectural assemblages that combine precise fabrication techniques with off-the-shelf commercial and industrial components. Their critical and situated approach sees design as a tool to imagine alternative and collective futures.

Projects by Departamento del Distrito have been exhibited internationally, including the recently completed installation Light Gauge at the M&AxCraft Contemporary Courtyard as well as exhibitions at the National Building Museum (Washington, D.C.), Het Nieuwe Instituut (Rotterdam), arc en rêve (Bordeaux), LIGA (Mexico City), Whitehouse (Tokyo), and the Graham Foundation (Chicago). The practice was an official contributor to the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial and received the 2022 Architectural League of New York Prize.

Current Interests

Current Interests is an architecture and design studio dedicated to the social, spatial, and material liveliness of architecture. Founded by Matthew Au and Mira Henry, Current Interests draws on the deep knowledge each brings to the partnership. Together, Au and Henry have designed and constructed a wide range of complex building programs, including public cultural projects, residences, commercial spaces, and museum exhibitions.

As creative collaboration, Au and Henry’s work straddles important lines in the field and has been published, exhibited, and recognized internationally. In 2023 Au and Henry authored the book Gathering: Ongoing Work by Current Interests, published by Princeton School of Architecture Press. Most recently, Current Interests received Architectural Record’s 2025 Design Vanguard Award. Au and Henry are design faculty at Southern California Institute for Architecture and have had visiting faculty appointments at Princeton University and Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Please note: by attending this event, you agree to the liability waiver and release below. Liability Waiver and Release: * I hereby declare that I accept and understand the following conditional requirements of my participation in LA Forum's Under The Influence event. I declare that I fully intend to be bound by the condition stated herein. I further declare that I have read and fully understand all of the conditions outlined below. In consideration of acceptance of my participation in LA Forum's Under the Influence event, I, for myself, my heirs and assigns, hereby release the sponsors, program participants, coordinators, and officials of this event from any and all liability arising from illness and/or damages I may suffer as a result of participation in such an event. I attest that I will wear any protective gear required by the event organizers. I agree that if I violate this agreement and attempt to bring suit against any part of parties named herein, that I will be held responsible for attorney’s fees and any costs incurred by that person in defending such action. I further understand that this waiver applies to all or any events in which I may participate from the time I convene with the event forward and that this waiver and release of rights contains no expiration date.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE: CONVERSATION 011

DEPARTAMENTO DEL DISTRITO & CURRENT INTERESTS