Hombre de Maíz | SAVE Arquitectos

The Metztitlán Valley, is a site distinguished by the fertility of its lands and its biodiversity, where you can find the Metztitlán Lagoon, whose water level varies significantly depending on the presence or absence of droughts or wet seasons. It is composed of 110 diverse communities, with a demographic average of 190 inhabitants per community who engage in agriculture as their primary activity.

Fair trading with other farmers in the area has been hampered by issues like the high rates of poverty in the communities and the lack of educational opportunities. Also, changes in weather conditions as a result of global warming have caused flooding that puts communities' crops at risk.

The proposal raises the platform for the "Hombre de Maíz" (Man of Corn), resulting in a module that promotes synergy between the community and agricultural activities.

This articulated modular piece, made up of a light structure that barely touches the ground, allows connections between other modules, giving the project a progressive and adaptable program that meets the community's needs.

The modules are designed to be able to create a multi-scale facility by adding different types of enclosures, allowing the community to interact in various ways and connecting the environment with their uses and customs as well as with the cultural activities of the population.

The lower level of the building are utilized for daily agricultural activities, starting with the architectural program on the bottom floor and moving up.

The module aims to address the field's lack of equipment and technology by conducting activities as laboratories, training centers, storage facilitie and greenhouses, which improve the quality of crops and the quality of life for workers and communities.

Likewise, these architectural items may take on a new architectural function, such as shelters or collection points, when confronted with a natural disaster.