27.08.2026 by Docomomo Belgium
Caribbean Modernism in Two Rhythms
Architecture as national projects in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Alex Martínez Suárez (DR) & Ivonnen Marcial-Vega (PR) in conversation with dr. Zsuzsanna Böröcz.
Oct. 5 | 17:00 | University of Antwerp, Promotiezaal Grauwzusters. Livestream available.
A special afternoon of architecture, culture, and Caribbean perspectives (in English)
What happens when two Caribbean islands tell the story of modern architecture at different rhythms?
Join us for a special dialogue between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, exploring how architecture has been shaped by development agendas, tourism economies, and geopolitical positioning. Looking beyond the familiar rhythms of merengue and salsa, Alex Martínez-Suárez and Ivonne María Marcial-Vega will reflect on MoMo architecture as both a cultural expression and a political project, revealing unexpected connections, as well as important differences, between the two islands.
Speakers
Alex Martínez-Suárez is a Dominican architect, researcher, and curator. He holds an advanced master’s degree in architecture from the Berlage Institute in the Netherlands and a graduate degree in museum studies from Harvard University. He is director of Archipiélago, a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to architecture, academic research, and cultural production.
Ivonne María Marcial-Vega is a Puerto Rican architect, photographer, and educator. She holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Puerto Rico and studied fine art photography at Institute Saint-Luc in Belgium.
The event is organised by DoBE and hosted by the University of Antwerp (UA) in a beautiful setting. The evening will conclude with a reception featuring drinks and bites from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, offered by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
Places are limited, registration is required.
Come for the architecture, stay for the conversation, and join us for a taste of the Caribbean.
Participation is free for all Docomomo Belgium 2026 members & students.
Non-members can still join us as a member, or pay a fee of 15,00 euros.
If you cannot make it to Antwerp, we are happy to provide a livestream. Registration is also mandatory and comes with a fee of 5,00 euros.
For all options, please use the registration form below.
Thanks to our partners and sponsors