Photo: Shawn Robertson
Harold Fallon
Harold Fallon (d. July 20, 2026) was a Belgian civil engineer and architect who studied at the University of Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and KU Leuven (Belgium). After graduating in 2001, he co-founded the architecture office AgwA in Brussels, working on a wide variety of public buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces. AgwA's work has been published and exhibited internationally. In 2026, AgwA, in collaboration with architecten Jan de Vylder Inge Vinck, received the prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award for the transformation of the Palais des Expositions (CHAPEX) in Charleroi, Belgium, becoming the first Belgian project to receive the award.
With his thesis, “Metarbitrariness: AgwA, an Architecture of Practice,” Fallon obtained a PhD in Architecture from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2013, supported by KU Leuven, where he had been teaching and researching since 2007. He was an associate professor at the Faculty of Architecture of KU Leuven, where he taught design studios engaging circularity and sustainable design as critical tools to address socially relevant topics such as vacant buildings, social housing, and collective memory spaces. In 2019, he co-founded Architecture in Practice, a research group at KU Leuven and an interuniversity research platform focused on the interactions between architectural practice, academic research, and alternative narrative strategies. He was also co-founder and editor of Practices in Research, a journal and conference for practice-based research in architecture, as well as the book series In Practice.
Fallon was a founding collaborator of Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador, an international, community-based research initiative dedicated to historical memory, documentation, and commemoration of the Salvadoran Civil War. Beginning in 2017, he worked closely with Salvadoran-Belgian architect Evelia Macal Guerra, architect Thomas Montulet, community coordinator Roberto Urbina, Asociación Sumpul, the youth artist cooperative Colectivo Matiz, and researchers and students from Western University and KU Leuven on the participatory design and construction of the Sumpul River Massacre Memorial in Las Aradas, Chalatenango, completed in 2025. Developed through years of collaboration with massacre survivors, community organizations, artists, architects, and scholars, the memorial commemorates the approximately 600 civilians killed during the May 14, 1980, Sumpul River Massacre. The project brought together architectural design, traditional building techniques, community participation, and artistic interventions to create a public space for remembrance, education, and collective gathering. Fallon's commitment to collaborative architectural practice and community-engaged research was central to the realization of the memorial.
Fallon was married to Surviving Memory co-founder, Evelia Macal Guerra. He was fluent in Spanish and had a profound knowledge of the Salvadoran context.
Obituaries, Tributes, and News Notices
In Memoriam – Harold Fallon — KU Leuven, Faculty of Architecture (English, August 10, 2026). An institutional tribute recognizing Fallon's contributions to architectural practice, teaching, and research, including his involvement in Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador since 2018.
Harold Fallon (1977–2026) — Flanders Architecture Institute, by Hülya Ertas (Dutch, July 23, 2026). A personal and professional tribute reflecting on his architectural philosophy, collaborative approach, and commitment to research and teaching, including his work with Evelia Macal Guerra on the Sumpul River Massacre Memorial.
Belgische EUmies Awardswinnaar Harold Fallon overleden op 49-jarige leeftijd — Belgian Order of Architects (Dutch, July 2026). A professional obituary recognizing his international reputation and the 2026 EU Mies van der Rohe Award.
Harold Fallon, la marge comme espace de liberté — Archi Urbain (French, 2026). A substantial personal tribute exploring Fallon's architectural philosophy, his commitment to adaptive reuse and ecological design, and his professional and academic achievements.
Harold Fallon, 49 jaar — De Standaard (Dutch, 2026). A formal death notice.
Harold Fallon – Avis de décès — Inmemoriam.be (French-language interface, July 2026). A public death notice and condolence register.
In Memoriam: Harold Fallon — Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (English, July 21, 2026). A tribute recognizing his contributions as Dean's Visiting Associate Professor in spring 2026.
Surviving Memory Project Named Finalist for SSHRC Impact Awards — Western University, Faculty of Information & Media Studies (English, October 2026). A news article recognizing Fallon's contributions as a founding member of Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador, including reflections on his legacy and his work with Salvadoran communities.