The Aztecs and the Mayans left an impressive legacy on what is now contemporary Mexican architecture. From the modern-day glass pyramid that is Caesar’s Palace Resort in Cancun to the 6th century stone city of Palenque in the foothills of Chiapas, the historical influences of Mexico’s native inhabitants are undeniable. Their approach, which infuses architecture and art, has enjoyed a permanence in Mexican culture despite 21st century advances in engineering, design, and construction. Contemporary architecture in Mexico reflects a tremendous respect for its history and remains a fusion of the past and present.
Centuries ago, the Aztec, Mayan, and the Inca tribes that dominated the country constructed mammoth structures using stone as their primary building material. This indigenous architectural legacy is characterized by the construction of monumental buildings that express their religious, social, and economic structure. Such monumental structures remain a defining characteristic of contemporary Mexican architecture as does the use of stone building materials. Strong, clean lines and the aggressive use of color define Mexican architecture past and present. But the ethnic mix of Mexico’s past also plays a role. In addition to the indigenous populations, the Spanish and French came to Mexico as colonists and brought an infusion of European colonial architecture which can been seen in Italianate and Greek revival mansions of Merida and the gothic grand cathedrals in Mexico City such as the Zocalo Plaza.
Arguably in no other culture are the telltale signs of its humanity so evident than in Mexico. Mexicans harbor a great respect for architecture because it is a reflection and an expression of cultural and civic pride. The Mexican architect enjoys a certain prominent status. He is more publicly known because the people take a greater interest in and perhaps appreciation of architectural works. Many Mexicans see public architecture for what it contributes to the community and what it means culturally. There is a greater awareness or sensitivity to architecture.
Given this prevailing attitude towards architecture, it’s no wonder that Mexico is full of monuments from the golden angel (EL Angel) along Paseo de La Reforma in downtown Mexico City to statues of unsung Mexican heroes such as Poncho Villa in town plazas. Public architecture is a source of great pride and a community’s identity. Because public architecture enjoys such respect, citizens generally are not concerned about the use of public funds or the cost to construct public structures.
In Mexico, the home is a permanent thing. Families build houses that will last their lifetimes and for generations to come. Custom designed homes dominate residential construction out of necessity rather than as an expression of social or economic status. Often this resident also is home to multiple generations under one roof. Grandparents, grandchildren, and parents might live together under one roof and the home will pass on to successive generations. Residential construction is a defining expression of cultural differences between the United States and Mexican lifestyles.
In the United States, track homes or mass-produced homes comprise most of the homebuilding. Custom homebuilding tends to be accessible for the wealthier clients.
When a family builds a house in Mexico, they are constructing a family legacy. The home typically is not viewed as an investment as it is in the U.S. but rather a dream house with the intention to remain in it for a lifetime. Mexican families are much less mobile than American families, which tend to be separated geographically by jobs. American families also tend to change homes more frequently as an upgrade or investment.
This cultural difference creates a much larger demand for custom home building in Mexico as opposed to the U.S. A large part of the population needs the services of an architect in Mexico. Architecture is much more accessible to all classes. In addition, the Mexican architect is much more involved in the project.
Architectural Practice: In most architectural projects, the Mexican architect is much more involved from concept to completion because he is also the master builder. He is not just an observer. He is there directing full-time daily the sequencing, the means, and methods of the construction. That is perhaps the defining difference between the US and Mexican approach to architecture.
The architect designs the building and hires the construction team or general contractor in residential and most commercial projects. The general contractor is under the direct supervision of the architect via a design-build contract. In the United States, architects typically do the design work as contracted by the client. Then, the construction of the project is put out for bid. Architects monitor the work of the general contractor to make sure work proceeds according to the architectural plans.
Marketing: The Mexican architect enjoys a type of celebrity status. Everybody knows the architect and his work. For that reason, most marketing efforts are driven by word of mouth. In commercial architecture, the approach is like marketing efforts in the U.S. Most Mexican firms need the resources of a marketing department to compete for projects. A lot of the commissions for projects, especially the governmental ones, are given by invitation only. Rather than an RFP and a short presentation there are design-build contests where the architect presents a conceptual project and the estimated construction budget.
Design and Production: The process of design and document production is less cumbersome in Mexican architecture. Because the architect is intimately involved in all aspects of the project, documents need not be as detailed. The Mexican architect and the construction team use a schematic design at the job site. The project is supervised by an on-site resident architect who can draw any additional details as needed in the construction process. Architectural practices in the U.S. require much more detailed documents. The general contractor needs design documents with a three-dimensional schematic to show him how to build a project because the architect is not on-site involved in the daily construction process.
Materials: Due to the economy and historical context of contemporary Mexican architecture, most buildings are constructed out of masonry and concrete. These materials are cost effective in Mexican architecture because they are indigenous to the area as opposed to wood, which must be imported from different regions. Labor costs also drive the use of these building materials. Because of the abundance of reasonably priced masonry tradesmen, it is more cost-effective as opposed to the U.S. where masonry is much more expensive due to labor costs. Glass and steel have been introduced to a limited degree, but its sophistication of use does not achieve the same degree of complexity found in U.S. building systems.
