Project description by jury

El Tepozán is a new space designed for arts and crafts education. Borne from collaboration between the architects and the Tierra Adentro Cultural Mission Foundation that owns the land, the art village provides a safe and creative environment where the people of Canalejas, 100km northeast of Mexico City can meet, work, learn and produce art. The architecture establishes a synergy with the landscape and makes the site an attractive place especially for young locals to whom new cultural and leisure opportunities are offered. 

The master plan of the area includes different types of buildings that vary according to site topography. The design is largely inspired by vernacular techniques that enrich the sustainability profile of the project. Traditional jagüeyes (large pools) are used to collect and distribute water, high-thermal-inertia walls can naturally regulate the thermal environment while permeable structures allow for natural ventilation during the hottest days. The use of local materials and traditional construction methods are part of the circular economy strategy of the project.

Jury appraisal

The Holcim Awards jury Latin America enthusiastically welcomed the idea of a building complex that showcases new opportunities for the young generation’s future by providing spaces to learn and stay connected with the arts. The openness of the spaces was found coherent with the program that is the basis of the project, which requires a high level of flexibility to serve the community at its best. Besides the social and educational merit, the jury applauded the way the project engages in sustainability under other aspects. From an environmental perspective, the meaningful integration with the landscape as well as the use of materials from the region and the adoption of bioclimatic strategies was highly commended. The incremental construction concept for the complex to match the erratic financial availabilities was also considered a good strategy to ensure economic viability.