Comunal: Taller de Arquitectura Wins AR Emerging Architecture Award for Indigenous Community Work
In December 2019, the AR Emerging Architecture Award was presented by the World Architecture Festival to Comunal: Taller de Arquitectura, founded by Mariana Ordóñez Grajales and Jesica Amescua Carrera. Since 2013, they have been engaged with the Nahua community in Tepetzintan, creating an affordable housing prototype utilizing local bamboo. This model was showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2016 after its development in 2015. Due to a lack of funding for traditional materials, Comunal collaborated with the Tosepan Titataniske Cooperative Union to innovate a design that integrates reinforced concrete with bamboo. Additionally, students at Bachillerato Rural Digital no. 186 began constructing their school in 2017, finishing it in 2018. Currently, Comunal is focused on preserving Zapotec traditions and aiding reconstruction efforts in Ixtepec following the 2017 earthquakes.
Key facts
- Comunal: Taller de Arquitectura won the AR Emerging Architecture Award at the World Architecture Festival in December 2019.
- The firm was founded by Mariana Ordóñez Grajales (born 1987) and Jesica Amescua Carrera (born 1983).
- They work with indigenous Nahua communities in Tepetzintan, Sierra Nororiental de Puebla, Mexico.
- A low-cost bamboo housing prototype was built in 2015 using participatory workshops and the tequio tradition.
- The project was exhibited at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale in the Mexican pavilion curated by Alejandro Aravena.
- A second model combining reinforced concrete and bamboo was developed with the Tosepan Titataniske Cooperative Union to access government funding.
- Students at Bachillerato Rural Digital no. 186 self-built their school in 2017-2018 with Comunal's guidance.
- Comunal is now working in Ixtepec on a reconstruction project for Zapotec communities affected by the 2017 earthquakes, with 30 housing units planned.
Entities
Artists
- Mariana Ordóñez Grajales
- Jesica Amescua Carrera
- Alejandro Aravena
Institutions
- World Architecture Festival
- AR Emerging Architecture Award
- Comunal: Taller de Arquitectura
- Tosepan Titataniske Cooperative Union
- Bachillerato Rural Digital no. 186
- Comité Ixtepecano
- Unitierra
- Artribune
Locations
- Tepetzintan
- Sierra Nororiental de Puebla
- Puebla
- Mexico
- Venice
- Italy
- Berlin
- Germany
- Ixtepec
- Istmo de Tehuantepec
- Tehuantepec