Swiss architects HHF have designed a spiral lookout point for a pilgrimage route near Guadalajara in Mexico.
The structure is one of several new facilities for pilgrims walking the Ruta del Peregrino that have been commissioned from international architects.
Other architects contributing are Ai Wei Wei studio, Luis Aldrete, Christ &Gantenbein, Dellekamp Arquitectos, Elemental, Godoylab,HHF, Omar Orlaineta, Periférica, Tatiana Bilbao|max, and Toa taller.
Below is some text from the architects, followed by a biography of the practice:
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Ruta del Peregrino: HHF Lookout Point
State of Jalisco, Mexico
Context and shape of the building
Ruta Peregrino is a path that goes from Ameca to Talpa de Allende, in the State of Jalisco near Guadalajara, Mexico.
During holy week, about 2 million people walk along this pilgrimage path. The municipalities involved wanted to give the pilgrims some permanent service areas and have invited an international team of architects and designers to design the various parts of this project like Shelters and Lookout Points.
The HHF Lookout Point is designed to be an additional loop in the pilgirmage’s path. Its round shape was developed as a formal anticipation of the peoples movement through the platform, going up to enjoy the great outlook in the surrounding countryside. The asymmetric arched openings provide access to an open hall which is covered by the platform above.
The inner walls are a shifted repetition of the primary facade in four tangential circles, between which the two staircases define a route up to the platform and back down. The only exception to the curved shape is a brick wall with a cross-shaped opening in the most protected part of the building, which serves as an intimate room for resting and prayer.
onstruction and technical aspects The Lookout Point is, with exception of the black metal handrail and the brickwall with the cross, entirely built out of cast concrete. To symplify the rather complex basic geometrie and to facilitate its construction, each arc is formed by an identical element of formwork. This frame can be reused as the circles are erected one after another.
Architect: HHF architects / www.hhf.ch
Design team: HERLACH HARTMANN FROMMENWILER with Alexa den Hartog, Janna Jessen
Official project Site: http://rutaperegrino.wordpress.com/
Client: Secretaria del Turismo, Gobierno de Jalisco Footprint: 272m²
Material: Concrete
Design phase (beginning and ending month, year): August ’05 – November ‘08
Construction phase (beginning and ending month, year): November ’08 – March ‘09
Maximum height of the building from ground level: 5m
HHF architects: short Biography
HHF architects was founded in 2003 by Tilo Herlach, Simon Hartmann and Simon Frommenwiler. Since then HHF architects could realize several projects in Switzerland and abroad. With the ‚Baby Dragon‘ a pavillion in the Jinhua Architecture Park in China they could work for the first time internationally. Further projects in China, the USA, Germany, Mexico and Italy which are now under construction followed this first project outside Switzerland. At present HHF architects are working amongst other things on a housing project near the City of Basel, a private house in the Hamptons, New York, a fashion Center in Berlin, a housing complex near Rome and two buildings in Inner Mongolia.
In addition to building, teaching is an important constituent of the office. Simon Hartmann was teaching assistant at the ETH Studio Basel with the Professors Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Roger Diener and Marcel Meili since 2002 and head of teaching since 2005. Simon Frommenwiler was teaching assistant with Professor Harry Gugger at the ETH in Lausanne since 2005. In 2007 HHF architects were guest lectures at the MIT in Boston.
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Posted by Marcus Fairs
January 9th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Love it!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
one of the nicest projects i have seen posted on dezeen in a very very long time.
kudos!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
neat-o
January 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
great project and great representation.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
plan is beautifull
January 9th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Very good!
January 9th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Outstanding in everyway!
I would like one in my back yard.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I am curious to see the built result in its actual physical reality! Waiting for images in late spring!
January 9th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
very nice to see, excellent to feel, awsome to experience…!!!…small, not complex, n above all very contextual……after a long time get to see a sculpted architecture……..!!!!
January 9th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Great work, just great..
January 9th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Typical swiss architecture……..all around concrete…….
January 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
absolutely beautiful concrete work.
January 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
its nice to see all the parts of this project… I’m also looking forward to seeing it built. The Hand rail is a bit out of place, but it could just be the rendering.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Love it love it. Elegant and Simple, not trying to be what it’s not.. and it has this old meets new feel with the arches combined with the smooth transitions of the form. Good ol’ concrete.
January 9th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
bravisimoooo:)
January 9th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
klaas, darling – I believe the first two images are of the pavilion on site.
January 9th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Jajajaja, very nice but… you don´t know Mexico for sure…
“The intimate room for resting and pray” is going to be the perfect “toilet” and is going to smell very nice… believe me…
January 10th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Bravo!
Los felicito, han desarrollado un proyecto especatular.
January 10th, 2009 at 5:32 am
This is an elegant crown in the ground, an homage to the planet of the apes.
I want to see it in 15 years when the elements have dressed it.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Love this
January 10th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
THESE ARE ALL RENDERINGS! HAHAHA! THE SWISS HAVE A MANIA FOR PERFECTIONISM. Still a beautiful project so … but show it built!
January 10th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
do like d’ wavy staircase in plan, really works~
January 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
peridotprince darling, these are only renderings
January 10th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The idea is interesting, suitable and beauty. However, I believe the assimetric archs are out of context. Despite the fact that the loop path is shown very well in the floor plan, the archs spoil the concept in the elevation plans.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I love the scale, great visuals.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
hmm… its nice but it reminds me of a Halo level…
January 11th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
very interesting……
siting very skillfully done.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Is it real building?Oh , it’s cool!it’s full of rationality, so it is beautiful!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
very nice. i love how the arches look like they’re swaying
January 15th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
very expensive and excessive for such a poor and simple. Rise up