Houry Jamkojian
Borders & Territories
Inhabiting Bodies and Territories: On Spatiality and Materiality of Migration
This project explores the dynamic interplay between space, time and body in the Darien Gap in Panama, a dangerous transit territory for migrants journeying to North America, where in 2023 alone, 141 known deaths were reported. Addressing the need for a dignified end, the project proposes a living memorial through three stages: homemaking, housekeeping and memorialization. Homemaking involves migrants performing burial rituals—collecting, washing, digging, burying and marking—as a comforting farewell to the deceased, creating a permanent resting ‘home’ in the territory. Housekeeping entails border patrols documenting and maintaining these sites, using a rope system to track burial sequences, tree growth and body decomposition. Memorialization integrates the deceased and their grave markers into the territory's natural cycle, forming a living tribute that evolves over time. Built upon the accumulation of countless journeys, the memorial serves as a model for architectural responses to shared tragedies, offering relevance extending beyond Panama.