Centro ejidal | Margaritas, San Luis Potosí, México |

En colaboración con toa, Taller de Operaciones Ambientales

Community center / Margaritas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico |

In collaboration with toa, Taller de Operaciones Ambientales

The administrative center of the cooperatively or­ganized town Las Margaritas on the high plateau of the San Luis Potosi desert was a pro bono project realized upon the invitation of the organization Taller de Operaciones Ambientales (toa) together with the local community. The buildings were de­signed by the community in participative work­shops and try to strengthen the cooperative organization through a neutral space for dialogue which allows the population to develop their au­tonomous future. The people asked for a space for reunions and celebrations; a store for selling the products of the Asociación Flor del Desierto; a li­brary and internet center; spaces for workshops and a garden. We used traditional and local build­ing techniques in order to minimize the environ­mental impact and we trained the local population in maintaining and improving their own homes. The outer buildings protect the central area from strong winds and the difficult desert conditions.