The international competition, led by Arquine, called for architects and designers to submit their best proposals for a temporary pavilion to be located within Mexico City during the MEXTRÓPOLI 2020 Architecture and City Festival. With over 290 proposals the jury, which consisted of Tatiana Bilbao, Ruth Estévez, Carlos Facio, Alberto Odériz, Saidee Springall, and Alejandro Tapia, selected Gastronomic Palapa as the winners.

Proposed by Lemonot (Sabrina Morreale AADipl 2016 and Lorenzo Perri AADipl(Hons) 2016) and Federico Fauli AADipl 2017, Gastronomic Palapa addresses how what we eat and how we relate to the food and resources we have today defines a cultural and historical debate. Completely made by Chiles Secos, the triangular-shaped dryer is constructed with a series of wooden arches forming an inverted thatched roof that acts as a communal palapa. 3500 bunches of chillies become the main elements to inform the materiality of the pavilion. They’re attached progressively to each wooden arch, creating a colourful sequence to walk through. The sheltered space communicates to the exuberant Alameda through a series of tables. La Mesa as a medium to connect interior and exterior, providing a fertile ground for spontaneous gatherings. This gastronomic palapa is an architecture to be physically consumed throughout the festival. Mextrópoli is a ludic and reflexive event that heightens the voices of architects, city planners and authorities to generate knowledge about the city that occupants inhabit. 20th-23rd March, Alameda Central, Mexico City

Find out more on the Arquine website and on Bustler