The former Santo Domingo de Guzman Monastery (1572-1666) in Oaxaca is one of the world’s most biodiverse places, as well as being a gateway for different cultures and peoples. Inside the stone walls of the religious complex you can find the Ethnobotanical Garden, which through the variety of plant species tells the rich economic, cultural and social heritage of the city in southern Mexico.
The Orchid Educational Pavilion designed by FGP Atelier is a structure that serves to assist the hospitality of species and educate visitors about civil and vegetal diversity.
The American firm designed a structure that minimises environmental impact and energy consumption, integrating a passive cooling system, solar panels and geothermal heat. The building is conceived as an open grid allowing visual contact with the 17th century building and the natural entry of light. Its modular composition enables it to be quickly and easily dismantled and relocated.
A central staircase leads visitors to the pavilion roof, where they can admire the monumental church and the lush botanical garden.