Mexico 2016

“Unfoldings: transformations that connect buildings to other times and places.” Mexico’s participation features architectures assembled from fragments, modules, relations, stories, tactics, technologies, and construction strategies. It emphasizes experiences that can be translated, adapted, and multiplied rather than complete works, products, or closed systems. The curators intend to build on existing bodies of knowledge and, by putting the pieces together, start answering questions on the social role of architects and architecture.

The departure points of the work are design, self-building and participation manuals. By narrating their deep history in Mexico the Pavilion rethinks the past and present of our architecture. Manuals distill architectural knowledge and help displace the discipline’s focus from isolated works with unique authors to processes whereby skills and knowledge are transmitted and applied. They are also instruments that, by allowing communities to shape their environment, connect design and construction strategies to community organization schemes.

The Pavilion presents works and experiences connected to the manuals’ themes and objectives, as well as comparable strategies for production and dissemination of knowledge. The curators have selected exhibition materials to show how the contributions of architects might have and impact beyond a building’s walls, connect to other strategies and facilitate experiences in self-management. They intend to show that architecture is always immersed in social processes and interdisciplinary frameworks. The profession’s potential is only realized through collaboration. Success stories are good. Systems for the multiplication of success stories are better.

Exhibitors: David Mora, Valeria Prieto, Mariano Arias-Diez, Alejandro Suárez Pareyón, César Augusto Guerrero, Mariana Ordoñez, Jorge Andrade, Paloma Vera, João Boto Matos, Javier Toscano, Isadora Hastings, Melba Denisse García, Álvaro Lara, Juan Carlos de la Garza, Itzel Martínez del Cañizo, Amanda de la Garza, Juan José Santibáñez, Luz Yazmín Viramontes, Juan Alfonso Garduño, Jesús Roberto Núñez, Alfredo Hidalgo, Daniel Filloy Ring, Juan Manuel Casillas, José Carlos Lavalle, Alexa Mabel Pacheco, Carlos Hagerman, Jesús Álvarez, Lara Becerra, Betsaid Moreno, Jorge Rivera, Aarón Gutiérrez, Raúl Cárdenas, Carlos González Lobo, María Eugenia Hurtado, Oscar Hagerman, Roberto Rodríguez, Ximena Paulina Davis, María Portilla, Regina Rivero-Borrell.