Redoubling characteristics of organic architecture, the exhibition’s design incorporates a radial scheme with an empty focal area in the center that coincides with the gallery’s geometric center. Designed by lead exhibition designer Arturo Heredia Soto, a seven-pointed star radiates stud walls with exhibition materials suspended on them. Eschewing 90° angles, the design evokes a sense of “breaking the box.” “The walls don’t delimit the space,” said Heredia Soto, noting that because of the stud design, you can see right through them. Another advantage of the design is that it limits waste by repurposing materials.

At the interpretive level, Perea also connected the way the exhibition design radiates from a central point to “symbolizing the creative process underlying organic design, which develops ‘from within,’ free from the constraints of styles and trends.” The wooden frames, typical of home construction in the U.S., allude to the domestic nature of the projects exhibited. 

“Instilling the installation with an unfinished and raw air, they subtly remind one of a construction site, an area where Helena Arahuete has thrived throughout her professional career,” Perea added.   

For the AD&A Museum, the exhibition is an opportunity for visitors  to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the contributions of underrepresented architects — which is pivotal in advancing equity within the field of architecture. The exhibition also promotes environmental conservation by showcasing the role of organic architecture in terms of energy efficiency, resource preservation and landscape protection.

For those who wish to go beyond the exhibition, on Dec. 9, Arahuete herself will attend the launch of the exhibition catalog “From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete” (ArtEZ, 2023) at the Neutra Office Building in Silver Lake. Perea, who also edited the catalog, will moderate a discussion between Arahuete and renowned architectural historians and catalog contributors Mimi Zeiger and Alan Hess.