Cuexcomate Community Center in Xoxocotla
Federico Colella | Re:lab 

Cuexcomate Community Center in Xoxocotla

Federico Colella | Re:lab 


The Pan-American Development Foundation of Mexico proposed to refurbish the sports center of Xoxocotla Municipality, which was structurally damaged by the 2017 earthquake, and to build a new community center for the town. The work was carried out through the collaboration of Federico Colella, Riccardo Caffarella, Brenda Hernández, and Aleyda Reséndiz. Connected by a large portico, two constructions are inserted into an irregular plot: the bigger, taller one contains double-height multipurpose spaces; the longer, lower volume harbors offices and classrooms. The porticoes shield the interior from direct solar radiation. The slope and the geometry of the roofs facilitate cross ventilation. The bamboo lattices improve thermal conditions. The doors and windows of interwoven reeds let air and light through. The mixed structures of the two volumes include steel profiles and Mattone-system compacted earth blocks (BTC), originally developed by Gloria and Roberto Mattone. Improving environmental conditions indoors while reducing building costs, these blocks present a double male/female joint and were prepared on the site using local earth and labor, with the help of a portable press machine donated by the Italian Embassy.