MARIALUISA BORJA is Principal of Al Borde, based in Quito, Ecuador. Al Borde often works on projects with low budgets and minimal resources, attempting to turn these challenges to aesthetic and political advantage. Al Borde capitalizes on assets beyond the monetary, bankrolling on skills, knowledge, materials, property, friends, and acquaintances as equity for its projects. They have built several houses and community projects in Ecuador, such as the Nueva Esperanza School and regularly organize construction workshops. This lecture is presented as part of ‘Building Optimism: Public Space in South America’ on view at the Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art.