Architecture Competition Kurgi Observation Tower Honorable mention – Aurelio Piña and Juan Rodriguez

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winners for our “Kurgi Observation Tower” competition – Aurelio Piña and Juan Rodriguez from Mexico!

Aurelio Piña and Juan Rodriguez from Mexico

Diagrama is a young architectural firm founded in 2015. We are based in Guadalajara, México, but our work expands to different parts of the country, including cities such as Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Ensenada and others. We are a team of 15 professionals, specialized in different branches of architecture and design.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/individuals have been involved?

Our portfolio includes houses, apartment blocks, small hotels, mixed use buildings, and renovations of historical buildings. The bulk of our work concentrates around housing projects and apartment buildings, but we also have participated in urban renovation projects, landscaping, and interior design. Projects like “Casa Pedro” that mix historical renovation with contemporary adaptations and additions have become a staple of our early work, being published in major digital sites like Arch Daily or Divisare.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

We think that architecture is the opportunity to create spaces that generate a sense of belonging in their inhabitants, evincing the weather conditions, collective memories, and constructive traditions of a place through the use of local materials and labor. Our labor as architects in our society  is to start our every action from a meticulous analysis of Mexico’s economic reality and needs, developing  our projects alongside professionals that enable a multidisciplinary approach, with the intention of establishing a clear dialogue between our architecture and its social, cultural and historical context.

Why do you participate in architecture vision competitions?

Architecture competitions give us the chance to explore forms, contexts, materials, or languages different from those that we encounter in our day-to-day work. They keep us looking for new ideas and maintaining a fresh design approach.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

Architecture as any other endeavor is one of practice, and architecture competitions give you the opportunity to explore different ideas or interests without the pressure of local legislations or a client’s budget. Competitions help you to come up with new ideas and keep working on your abilities.