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Making the Mexican Dream Tangible

Rafael Monjaraz - Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos
Partner
Home > Infrastructure > Insight

Making the Mexican Dream Tangible

Juan Serrano - Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos
Partner
Juan Serrano

STORY INLINE POST

Tue, 11/01/2016 - 10:27

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Architecture is an essential element needed for the development of infrastructure that will galvanize the modernization of cities and enhance the standard of living of its inhabitants, according to Rafael Monjaraz and Juan Pablo Serrano, Partners at Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos.

“The firm believes technology, science and art intertwine to create architecture that fulfills human needs and can endure over time by adapting to its environment,” Monjaraz says. “Architecture is an art that narrates the presence of mankind on Earth, making it the testimony of civilization.” Serrano Monjaraz has concluded that architecture is not about doing what the architects want but creating solutions that society needs. The firm’s employees believe the architect’s job is to fulfill the dreams of the people and express those dreams by turning them into tangible buildings, making architects the instrument that will help society grow and express itself through its surroundings.

Sustainability is a growing trend in the infrastructure industry and architects are beginning to integrate it not only in their designs but in the materials they use to build their projects. “The idea of sustainability and awareness of the importance of nature are becoming prevalent in the construction industry as it realizes that exploiting resources not only devastates the landscape but also deteriorates ecosystems that we inhabit,” Monjaraz says. Buildings were traditionally constructed with materials that were easy to use and low cost, albeit extremely destructive to the environment. “However, as the years pass, the industry is understanding that choosing economically convenient solutions will ultimately create expensive consequences in the future,” adds Serrano.

The architects say the use of local materials in Mexican architecture is an ongoing debate in the field. Monjaraz believes that it is important to take into account how buildings are constructed, who will benefit and what effect it will have on the economy. “In any construction, finding the adequate materials for the project is imperative because they not only have to comply with the technological requirements but they also have to be aesthetically pleasing,” he says. “Globalization means that to construct something, the materials must be brought from all over the world to meet the specifications needed. We made the decision to design buildings that are sustainable and that are consistent with the economy.”

Serrano and Monjaraz also want to create designs that are capable of adapting to the surrounding natural environment. The firm designed the innovative Viñedo de Coté, which was inspired by Hassan Fathy, who created entire cities using sand from deserts in Egypt. For the vineyard, the firm used the original soil as raw material to build the building and cellar. “It is important to remember that the resources provided by nature, such as the soil, are essential elements for the construction,” says Serrano. “In this project, the soil was used to create the optimal environment for the wine storage because of its stabilizing impact on temperature.”

The architects at Serrano Monjaraz believe that values should always prevail. “Fashion trends are often imposed on our lives but the firm believes that architecture that is temporal or that corresponds to certain trends will not create significant long-lasting structures,” says Serrano. “We do not want to make decisions based on trends. We want to make decisions with responsibility and consciousness.” The firm agrees that architects must consider the economy and other external factors throughout the design process because that will help decide what construction system and processes will be used. “This will ultimately optimize not only the monetary resources but it will also create the least possible devastation to the site,” says Monjaraz.

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