Mexican design studio Centro de Colaboración Arquitectónica (CCA) has created a series of buildings in Jálpa de Mendez, Mexico, centred around a sports complex and baseball stadium shaded by monumental concrete umbrellas.
The design of the stadium and surrounding complex was completed in 2023 to revitalize public life in Jálpa de Mendez and "renew the city's most representative public spaces".
Led by Bernardo Quinzaños of CCA, the sports-centred project has two main buildings, the stadium and a rectangular sports hall, called Estadio Manuel Vargas Izquierdo and Polideportivo de Alto Rendimiento, respectively.
The baseball stadium is defined by ten large umbrellas made with exposed concrete. A series of tubular tensioners in a rust colour support the umbrellas from below and rise into pyramidal-shaped lattices above.
The heavy umbrellas shade the raked concrete stands, which stack up in chunky seating and standing platforms while ramping down to sidewalks that offer universal access to the whole complex.
Red metal gates and railings add a delicate, coloured texture to the monumental form.
Underneath the stands, a colonnade extends out, forming a covered corridor that connects to the multi-sport complex. The colonnade turns back on itself to form a rounded triangular court with a sculptural concrete bench to hold the corner of the property.
The team remodelled the existing courts and service areas and added a new building with basketball and volleyball courts – marked with bright blue and green surfaces – and martial arts studios for karate and judo.
Outside, CCA added a skate park and children's play area.
The sports complex was constructed with exposed concrete brackets supporting a steel truss structure. The wide, squared-off brackets jut out from the perimeter of the building and fold down to form a double-height loggia along the side of the sports complex.
A smaller row of columns splits the concourse in half and eases the transition from exterior to interior.
"This structure creates shaded areas and open spaces, allowing users to participate in activities comfortably, regardless of the weather," the team said.
A second-storey screen made from small, grey square concrete blocks brings light and air into the double-height sports complex from every direction and negates the need for air conditioning with cross-ventilation in the large space.
The orange-toned concrete references the regional quarry stone that marks the main arcade of the city's historic centre. The material was selected for its ability to reflect the climate's heat and prevent moisture accumulation.
Additionally, the complex features a white, reflective sawtooth roof, rainwater collection and rainwater harvesting systems.
Recently, CCA constructed a wooden pavilion around orchid cultivation at Casa Wabi in Puerto Escondido and built a nearby community centre with a central arched colonnade featuring the same orange-toned concrete as the Polideportivo de Alto Rendimiento and Estadio Manuel Vargas Izquierdo.
The photography is by Jaime Navarro.
Project credits:
Architect: Bernardo Quinzaños
Team: Andrés Suárez, André Torres, Miguel Izaguirre, Javier Castillo, Carlos Cruz, Gabriela Horta, Florencio de Diego, Lorenza Hernández, Mara Calderón de la Barca, Norma Mendoza, Jair Rodríguez, Santiago Vélez, Begoña Manzano, Fernanda Ventura, Victor Zúñiga
Client: SEDATU, Municipio de Jalpa de Méndez
Builder: CLAVE. Luis Trinidad, Eber Castellanos Ramos, Erick Álvarez Aguilar, Tirso Cuesta Guillen. TRASGO. José Fernando Orozco González, Gerardo González Gutiérrez, Eber Castellanos Ramos
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