sean leonard goes in search of the pluriversum

co-rd director Sean Leonard has been commissioned as a scenographer by the Het Nieuwe Instituut for its “In Search of the Pluriversum” exhibition, taking place in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Merging his skill and expertise as an architect with his experiences as a co-founder of the contemporary Caribbean art collective Alice Yard, Sean handled the spatial design for the exhibit.

The result? A diverse, multifunctional, semi-public private space, where everyday activities thrive within a limited footprint — with a lot of negotiation, of course! A fine experiment in how to live consciously and communally within a collaborative space.

Read more, here.

Alice Yard team (L-R): Christopher Cozier, Sean Leonard, Nicholas Laughlin & Kriston Chen (Photo by Mark Lyndersay, used with permission.)

the tilting axis interview

Check out co-rd director and registered architect Sean Leonard's interview on his Tilting Axis/Het Nieuwe Instituut Research Fellowship 2020, in which he discusses everything from his research methodology to his decision to work with a specific Maroon community in Suriname. Link below:

https://tiltingaxis.org/news/2021/5/17/interview-with-sean-leonard-tilting-axis-het-nieuwe-instituut-research-fellowship-2020?fbclid=IwAR1FmtNCXL2ml63CKa6LbY34UlIv8XxxA8blFUz-lmLPyN8YtybSI9HDzCo

Feature photo: Sunset at Palumeu on the River Tapanahoni in the Suriname rain forest by Delphinidaesy on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

mark franco elected to council of national trust

The National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, which is charged with ensuring the preservation of both our built and natural heritage, has selected co-rd Limited’s director and co-founder, Registered Architect Mark Franco, as an elected member of its 7th Council.

The work of the Trust is carried out by the 11-member Council, of which six are appointed (by the Minister of Planning and Development) and the remaining five elected.

Mark brings to the position over 35 years’ experience practising architecture, during which time he has addressed solutions around conservation, preservation and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and sites, in the context of being a contemporary architect.

The other newly elected council members include Marie Abdulah, Cezanne Chang and Dr. Ryan Mohammed.

You can support the work of The National Trust by becoming a member or visiting any of its heritage sites.

in search of the pluriverse...

At the start of 2020, co-rd Limited’s director and co-founder, Registered Architect Sean Leonard, was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Tilting Axis/Het Nieuwe Instituut Fellowship.

As this challenging year comes to a close, it’s fitting that Sean has been featured in a podcast series curated by Erik Wong (Graphic Designer/Lecturer) and Sophie Krier (Relational Artist/Researcher), which forms part of The Travelling Academy — a project instituted by the Netherlands’ Het Nieuwe Instituut.

Sean’s interview is the fifth instalment of the series, entitled In Search of the Pluriverse. What exactly is a pluriverse? A universe that makes room for a variety of worldly components, in which there is no single dominant perspective.

Sean explores — from a distinctly Caribbean point of view that the hosts dubbed “On celebrating smallness” — how design can contribute to our connection with (and transition towards) this multi-perspective world. It’s a vibrant discussion that will make you consider our heritage, the Caribbean yard as a space of play and negotiation, and the magical lure of the Moko Jumbie with fresh eyes.

You can listen to the podcast here.

co-rd director awarded fellowship

co-rd Limited’s director and co-founder, Registered Architect Sean Leonard, is the inaugural recipient of the Tilting Axis/Het Nieuwe Instituut Fellowship.

The fellowship is awarded to one mid-career, established applicant based in the Caribbean, and will include collaborations with The Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, The Black Archives and Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art.

The experience is intended to develop Caribbean-based curatorial, design and artistic realities while facilitating an exchange of knowledge with Dutch cultural organisations.

Sean plans to use the fellowship to expand on one of his practice’s proposals of over a decade ago, addressing the sensitive occupation of the Caroni Swamp in Trinidad.

Congratulations, Sean! You always have our admiration and support.

co-rd Limited director Sean Leonard