In Mexico, two architectures embracing the landscape

Set between lakes and hills, two circular structures inhabit the site using local materials.

Tropical beaches, temperate forests, grasslands, wetlands and foothill vegetation: Mexico is a country rich in ecosystems with which human intervention must necessarily come to terms. Two architectural firms have tried their hand at designing works in spectacular sites.

The first one, the Centro de Cultura Ambiental by ERRE Q ERRE arquitectura y urbanismo is located in the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City; Clubhouse in Valle San Nicolás by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the second, is 150 km from the capital city, in a suburban area on the outskirts of Valle de Bravo. Common denominator is the commitment to minimize the impact of the building in the site by leveraging a balanced dialogue with the landscape.

Sinuous volumes set between lakes and mountains, built with sustainable technologies and natural materials (wood, stone), locally sourced or salvaged, set the scene for immersive experiences in nature: in the first case, with a didactic mode that accompanies visitors to learn about the specificities of ecosystems and sustainable land-use practices, through thematic exhibitions and a network of paths that wind from the main building; in the second case, with a recreational and predominantly contemplative enjoyment of the natural context of which the architecture is an integral part.

A Centre for environmental culture

The Bosque de Chapultepec, the largest urban forest on the American continent and a precious “lung” of Mexico City, encompasses two souls: the naturalistic one and the cultural-recreational one thanks to the numerous museums, services and recreational spaces distributed in the three sections of the park.

In this vital place, and deeply loved by capitalinos, there is the Centro de Cultura Ambiental by ERRE Q ERRE arquitectura y urbanismo, which stands as a new epicenter for the promotion of environmental culture within the second section of the park.

ERRE Q ERRE arquitectura y urbanismo, Centro de Cultura Ambiental, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico 2023. Photo Marcos Betanzos
Centro de Cultura Ambiental, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico 2023. Photo Margarita Gorbea

The intervention is located on a natural slope adjacent to Lake Menor: a circular open-air arena pivots between the lake and the wood and stone pavilion with a hemicycle layout and truncated cone section, that hosts exhibitions and cultural events. The curvilinear course of the building dialogues with the sinuous physiognomy of the lake’s shores while the black stone cladding of the roof refers to the landscapes of the Pedregal de San Angel, an endemic ecosystem of volcanic origin southwest of the capital.

The building is the hub from which “biocultural” walks depart: paths that lead to explore the “ethnobotanical” gardens distributed around the Center, where different local ecosystems are illustrated and sustainable farming techniques, from ancestral practices to permaculture, are explored.

ERRE Q ERRE arquitectura y urbanismo, Centro de Cultura Ambiental, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico 2023. Photo Margarita Gorbea
Centro de Cultura Ambiental, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico 2023. Photo Margarita Gorbea

Clubhouse in Valle San Nicolás

Valle San Nicolás is a new 370-hectare settlement near Valle de Bravo that houses residences and services for sports, relaxation and wellness: here, every human element envisioned in the master plan is designed to relate harmoniously to the environment.

Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse, Valle de Bravo, Mexico 2021. Photo Rafael Gamo
Clubhouse, Valle San Nicolás, Mexico 2021. Photo Rafael Gamo

The Clubhouse, designed by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, stands as a hinge between the mountain behind and the lake in front. A circular-plan platform that seems to float on the water is developed along two corridors one internal and one external – that offer 360-degree perspectives on the valley and distribute to the different functional areas: to the east the dining area, kitchen and services; to the west the gym and wellness center. Plays of transparencies and reflections on the large perimeter windows create a visual continuity between the lake outside and the water mirror in the inner courtyard, where an axial path leads to the bar area and the pier with swimming pool.  

Cross-laminated wood in the structures, stone in the wall partitions, volcanic stone and red oak in the roof enhance the rough and natural character of the architecture that recovers the material textures and colors of the place.

Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse, Valle de Bravo, Mexico 2021. Photo Rafael Gamo
Clubhouse, Valle San Nicolás, Mexico 2021. Photo Rafael Gamo
Project name:
Centro de Cultura Ambiental
Project leader:
Rafael Ponce Ortiz
Project partner:
Juan Ansberto Cruz
Architecture/Urbanism/Landscape:
Rafael Ponce Ortiz, Margarita Gorbea Angeles, Cesar Ávila, Oscar Díaz Gaspar, Abigail Esparza, Diego Bueno de la Paz, Valerio López Acevedo
Landscape Engineering:
Juan Ansberto Cruz Gerón, Paola Patricia González Ordaz, Fabiola Alvarado, Gerardo Tapia, Eduardo Santiago, Perla Flores
Vegetable Proposal:
Secretaría del Medio Ambiente, Rodrigo Canjay Torres, Pamela Vélez, Fortino Acosta
Engineering and Environmental Design:
Alejandro de Alva, Amado Ríos, Edgar Ojeda Sotelo, Oscar Ramírez, Coral Rojas Serrano, Javier Cuauhtémoc Blancas Ponce
Geometry and Structural Design:
Eric Valdez Olmedo, Axayacatl Sánchez
Museography:
Adriana Miranda
Promoter:
Gobierno Federal/Secretaría de Cultura, Gobierno de la CDMX/Secretaría del Medio Ambiente
Project Coordinator "Chapultepec Nature and Culture":
Gabriel Orozco
Project name:
Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse
Project partners:
Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas (president); Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro, Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro (directors)
Project leader:
Boris Pena
Design manager:
Luis Pucheta, Santiago Letona, Alba Díaz
Project team:
Andrés Burguete, Ignacio Cabrera, José Mendoza, Luis Torres, Marco Pérez, Federico Serna
Engineering Coordination:
Marcos Hernández
Engineering Team:
José Eduardo Hernández
Interior Design Director:
Fernanda Patiño
Interior Design Team:
Delfina Espina, Regina Jarque
Structural engineering:
Metal y Madera, Alba Estructural
Electric, system and special, mechanical engineering:
Imati
Lighting consultant:
Artec3
Construction:
TUCA, Metal y Madera

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