COMPETITION SUMMARY

COMPETITION SUMMARY

Reflection on architecture from the landscape of America, in the cultural context of Mexico and more specifically in the agave landscape from which products of universal fame have been produced that have identified Mexico with these from ancient times.

The contest aims to devise a "Casa del Agave", somewhere in the landscape within Mexican territory and linked to the specific exploitation system of one or more of the products that are extracted from it.

The agave characterizes a good part of the Mexican landscape, giving meaning to living in an entire country that has traditionally exploited it. Pulque –the sacred drink of the ancient pre-Hispanic gods-, mezcal and tequila are obtained from the agave plant, the latter fruit of the encounter between the technique and traditions of two different worlds from the sixteenth century. But also, from the same plant, the ixtle and the thorns of its stalks are extracted, which since ancient times have been used in Mexico as fibers for fabrics and needles, respectively.

Can we think of architecture from the landscape? It is obligatory to imagine, to break the images to create new ones, that arise from the fruitful dream of our Mexican and American mother earth, to "return" to the countryside and make an Architecture in balance with the landscape.

The participants will have to define the place on which they will found this “Casa del Agave” that allows those who visit it to:

- Understand the landscape that surrounds it

- The processes of cultivation and collection of the plant in its physical and human environment

- Today and in its historical become

- Participate in the productive cultures from this plant in its broader cultural context: the place of the agave as a cultural landscape.

Contestants have complete freedom to propose the architecture that will characterize the"Casa del Agave". The specific program will be defined by each contestant based on their approach, duly argued, so that they can formulate a type to solve the project. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is suggested to take into account to devise the type of architecture that will define the program's functional relationship with:

-        - its own landscape

-         - the processes of cultivation, collection and specific production of derivatives from the plant

-         - culture and leisure.

I imagined seeing that through my mother's memories; of his nostalgia, between snatches of sighs. She always lived yearning for Comala, for the return; but he never came back. Now I come in his place. I bring the eyes with which she looked at these things, because she gave me her eyes to see: «There is, passing the port of Los Colimotes, the very beautiful sight of a green plain, somewhat yellow for the mature corn. From there Comala is seen, bleaching the earth, illuminating it during the night. ». JUAN RULFO

MEXICO: COUNTRY OF MAGUEY
MANUEL PAYNO 1864

• Agave: Greek word given in 1753 meaning : Admirable / Illustrious. In Turkish it means patient plant

• Mexico holds 75% from a total of 210 agave species registered.

• Resilient Plant. (Doesn't require irrigation, can grow in impoverished soils, withstand droughts, cold and storms).

• Growing Scenarios. (Mountains, plains, cliffs, mountain peaks, coastal dunes... preferably between 1000 and 2000m AMSL with a semi - dry climate aprox 22°C.)

• Agave Parts:

• Maturity period: after a period of 7 to 10 years, the stalk shoots when its ready to reproduce and it can reach up to 10 m in  only 12 weeks. 

• Slow growing period and a short and fixed period to end its life.

• Monocarpic: They die after flowering.

• Reproduction:

• Reproduction between 3 and 5 years
• By: 
• Seeds
• Bulb
• Rhizomes
• Rhizomes : The clone that sprout form the root are transplanted  when they are 50 cm tall. This process produces an identical copy of the mother plant.

• In Prehispanic Times:

• All domestic uses where related to it.
• Construction
• Clothing (HENEQUEN / SISAL)

• As food and plates
• Paper
• Soap
• For the fire instead of wood
• As a beverage (PULQUE)

PULQUE

• When the plant reaches its maturity the Quiote begins to form, to obtain the mead this process must interrupt and remove the Quiote, then extracting the aguamiel form its heart.

• In pre-hispanic era it was considered a Gods beverage.

• The drink's history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to certain classes of people. After the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, the drink became secular and its consumption rose. The consumption of pulque reached its peak in the late 19th century.

• LLanos de Apan  (Real region that produces fine maguey)

•  In the 20th century, the drink fell into decline, mostly because of competition from beer

Nowadays... we also have

MEZCAL

TEQUILA

ARCHITECTURE FROM...

ARCHITECTURE FROM LANDSCAPE

LLANOS DE APAN

• Nostalgic
• Remembrance
• Showing a history
• Storytelling
• Making a statement
• Not to forget

CREATE A TRANSITION BETWEEN TIMES SEEING THE PAST IN THE FUTURE UPCOMING

RUINS 

Nature and man made coexist.

Constructive elements are enhanced by natural components.

Staying Still with nature, how does it affects.

Fights for its survival

MEMORIAL

Biological example of resistance

Produces feelings

Educates and shares culture

Space for Reflection

Landmark / Milestone 

Contemplation Space

Reflection Space

ARCHITECTURE FROM ITS 
CHARACTERISTICS

• Efficient water usage
• Life cycle: Slow growing period and short fixed to end is life
• Adapts to harsh conditions
• Mechanism:
• Collects water
• Defend itself
• Nocturnal CO 2 fixation (They control when to open (in the night with fresher conditions)
• Uses of waxes to close themselves not to lose water and to protect from environmental stresses
• Maximize the surface for Photosynthesis
• Secondary and fast growing roots in case of lack of water

CONFIGURATION

• Rosette Structure (FIBONACCI)

• Letting nature get into it (rain, sun, air) 
• Always having zenith light
• BUD PRINT

ARCHITECTURE FROM ITS 
CULTIVATION REPRODUCTION

• Rhizomes:
• identical copies from the mother plant (Clones)

Clones

Repetition
Module (Modular)
Phases
Is there a place for slight variations created in natural processes

ARCHITECTURE FROM ITS 
PROCESSES

• The importance lies on the raw material
• In each bottle there can be found parts of:
• An ancient tradition
• The land that saw the plant grow
• Knowledge of each producer
• 
  
• The final product is the result of:
• Species used
• Weather
• Processes and techniques
• Vessel in which it is rested