Alexis Sablone is an Olympic skateboarder, designer and artist. After high school, Sablone enrolled at Columbia’s Barnard College, then trained as an architect at MIT. 

Since then, the seven-time X Games medalist has carved out a career that draws on both of their obsessions. Each an experiment in how urban design can strengthen the social fabric of our cities, their large-scale, useable (and skateable) sculptures are designed to encourage the creative ‘misuse’ of public spaces, and invite a wide, ever-expanding spectrum of communities to share their stewardship. To date, their projects have revitalised a public square in Malmö, Sweden, brought permanence and color to courts in Montclair, New Jersey, and allowed skaters and non-skaters alike to spend time on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal.

Through their practice, Sablone aims to create spaces for a dialogue that cuts across the differences of age, race and gender. “I am continually surprised and inspired to learn how different people think about the world and the projects they pursue as a result,” they said. “Talking and sharing ideas can only lead to new ways of thinking and practicing. So, for me, an event like this is an opportunity to be a part of architectural discourse, to engage, learn, and remain curious.”