The Community Cultural Centre for Teotitlán del Valle is an amazing structure designed by Mexican architecture firm Productura. This museum and library is located in Oaxaca, and aims to celebrate the heritage and history of the community. Built as two separate locations, the museum and library are pigmented with a color palette meant to complement the hues of surrounding buildings. The materials used in the building, including timber, bricks and clay, are all sourced locally and help to keep the aesthetic seen in the surrounding buildings.
Entering the building, patrons are greeted with a large set of brick steps and a timber handrail occupying a void in the space. The stairway is used to separate the three-storey building into two areas, with various rooms being kept in their own respective wings. Exhibition spaces are accessed by another set of curved staircases and reveal an open terrace. Air is constantly flowing through the space and was an intentional design feature by the architecture firm Productura as a means of keeping the building cool during the harsh Mexican heat.
Culturally Minded Buildings
Architecture Firm Productura Uses Cultural Design in Its New Building
Trend Themes
1. Community-centric Architecture - Architecture firms can leverage locally sourced materials and cultural designs to create structures that celebrate and serve the communities they are built in.
2. Sustainable Building Materials - The use of locally sourced building materials, such as timber, brick, and clay, can help reduce a building's carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
3. Ventilation and Airflow-centric Building Design - Designing buildings with good airflow and ventilation can keep the interior cool and reduce reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems, making buildings more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architecture firms can incorporate culturally sensitive designs and sustainable building practices to create new structures that celebrate local communities and promote sustainability.
2. Construction - Using locally sourced materials in construction projects can reduce the environmental impact of building while also supporting local economies and communities.
3. Sustainability Consulting - Sustainability consulting firms can provide guidance to architects and construction companies on how to incorporate sustainable practices and materials into their projects, creating structures that are environmentally responsible and culturally sensitive.