This portal, conceived through spatial design, activated by the city dwellers and the everyday stimuli of Mexico City’s life, becomes a new public piece in one of the city’s most important avenues, Paseo de la Reforma. Nescafé comissioned 8 artists(Francisco Serrano, Mario Schjetnan, Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta, Fernanda Canales, Manuel Cervantes, Alejandro Quintanilla and Alejandro Castro) to develop specific installations with the basic requirement of utilizing a maximum of 1500 metal coffee mugs.
Design by Rojkind Arquitectos – Photography by © Jaime Navarro
The final shape of the portal, along with the different colors of the mugs selected, reinforce the sense of movement of the piece, which plays a key role in the concept of the project. The steel planters anchor the structure and allow for the vines to grow in between the rebar, with the idea that in time it will cover the entire structure in a green foliage from the outside, while the inside displays the gradient of the mug’s chromatics.
Design by Rojkind Arquitectos – Photography by © Jaime Navarro
The play of the shadow’s patterns casted on the sidewalk add an extra layer that shifts throughout the day. This installation is intended to be in place during the winter months, providing a space of expression and interaction in the public realm.
Design by Rojkind Arquitectos – Photography by Jaime Navarro
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.