Mexican cultural center: cultural integration through architecture

From the Project Description: "Mexican immigrants come to the U.S. and do the hard and messy jobs that a lot of other people in the U.S. do not want to do while only getting paid minimum wage, at times less than that...They have to sacrifice quality time with family and miss out of some of the most important parts of their children's life in order for them to survive, not just to succeed in life, but to survive. Designing a Mexican Cultural Center that will aid immigrants while in the U.S. would facilitate the process of acquiring employment and a living place. In addition these types of services along with legal services would create a sense of security among recent immigrants in the U.S., perhaps without any knowledge of how life in the U.S. is like. Likewise, a Mexican Cultural Center would serve as a source for Mexican-Americans and non-Mexicans to be exposed to immigrants and the culture that they bring with them...To design a Mexican Cultural Center where all people can go to in search of knowledge about Mexico and its people is an excellent start."

Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Antonia Saavedra Vazquez Masters Project Mexican Cultural Center: Cultural Integration Through Architecture University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning Professors: Julio Bermudez Mira Locher Project Description 1 Site 7 Precedents 17 Program 28 Annotated Bibliography 41 Design 44 Table of Contents Mexican Cultural Center "The return to our tradition is a myth…No people has ever achieved that. The search for identity, for a model, I believe it lies before us…Our Identity is before us." - Jean-Marie Tjibaou My childhood was very different than that of the majority of the younger Mexican generations in the United States. I attended eight different elementary schools as a child. My family had to move about every six months from state to state in search of work. I, being a citizen of the U.S., had to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. illegally when I was a child because my parents were undocumented at the time and could not pass the border into the U.S. legally, therefore neither could I. I experienced first hand some of the many struggles immigrants have to go through and overcome in the United States. One of the most unforgettable days of my life will be the day when one of my nephews, who was around six years old at the time, refused to speak Spanish. According to him since he was born in the United States and was light complexioned he was American, not Mexican. The thing that was most depressing was the fact that his mother did not speak or understand English. His decision to not speak Spanish was not only denying his culture, and therefore not acquiring any knowledge of it, but also denying his own mother. He would have his older sister translate between him and his mother. I want to believe that he was probably too young to realize what he was doing, but every time I think about that day it infuriates me. Whether it is lack of interest or resources, the fact is that younger generations do not have enough knowledge about their roots and origin. It can be very difficult to have a firm grasp on identity in a country where more and more people of different backgrounds and culture arrive each day. The United States is just that, a country where various groups come together and often become something new and different. How then do we live Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Project Description Project Description Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture in a diverse society without losing our ancestor's traditions and culture? An even more difficult question would be; how do we share our culture with our children and others in hope of a better understanding of each other? The flow of immigrants into the U.S. has continued to increase in the last decades, despite U.S. government efforts to keep illegal immigrants from coming in. False information about the increase in illegal immigrants in the country being the cause for the U.S. critical economic, population growth, and safety has bled into communities nation wide causing tremendous discomfort and stability among citizens and non-citizens. Due to this strategy, even some of the Mexican population has been severely scared about keeping their own culture in hope of fitting in with the U.S. culture. Parents do not teach their children the Spanish language or Mexican traditions hoping that their children will ‘become' more American. On the other hand, some members of the younger generations try to conceal the truth about their parents not knowing English, working a minimum wage job, or sometimes the parent's appearance, that of "a Mexican Indian," to their friends or colleagues. These Mexicans believe that by forgetting their origin and converting to the American culture, life will be easier; that they will not have to deal with discrimination, segregation, and/or harassment of any kind. It is later in their life, and at times too late, that a lot of these Mexicans realize just how important their culture is and how it is an essential part of their identity. A lot of members of younger generations do not know about some of the sacrifices their parents and even grandparents had to make in order to provide them with the possibility for a better life. Mexicans risk their life by crossing the terrible cold Rio Grande along the Mexican and U.S. border and walking through the sun's harsh heat. They come to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families; others come so that their families will not die of starvation in a country where the Project Description economy is collapsing more and more each day. Immigrants do not come this far just to become criminals or feed off the U.S. government. Mexican immigrants come to the U.S. and do the hard and messy jobs that a lot of other people in the U.S. do not want to do while only getting paid minimum wage, at times less than that. Some of these jobs include field work out in the intense hot sun, dishwashers, house keepers, janitorial jobs in offices, waste, and many more. People do not come to the U.S. for a handout, they make this journey to earn what we all believe is humanely right, the opportunity to care for ourselves and loved ones. Unfortunately, they know that this is not possible back at home. They have to sacrifice quality time with family and miss out of some of the most important parts of their children's life in order for them to survive, not just to succeed in life, but to survive. Designing a Mexican Cultural Center that will aid immigrants while in the U.S. would facilitate the process of acquiring employment and a living place. In addition these types of services along with legal services would create a sense of security among recent immigrants in the U.S., perhaps without any knowledge of how life in the U.S. is like. Likewise, a Mexican Cultural Center would serve as a source for Mexican-Americans and non-Mexicans to be exposed to immigrants and the culture that they bring with them. People can choose to live in denial or ignorance of what is around them, but that does not make the situation disappear. The issue of immigration will continue to be a controversial topic for many years to come. This issue is not going to vanish from one day to the next, no matter how deep the desire might be. The Mexican Cultural Center would serve as an open book for all who wish to explore it, there will be no hold backs or obstructions. To design a Mexican Cultural Center where all people can go to in search of knowledge about Mexico and its people is an excellent start. The center should express, both architecturally and programmatically, a sense of the pride, strength, and honor Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture that make up the immigrants that come to the U.S. The design would also reflect some of the changes from both sides of the equation that have to be undertaken by the immigrants as well as Americans; perhaps, introducing a sense of each side's unique culture and then a combination and result of both. Mexican culture is about pride, history, heritage, tradition, music, dance, art, community and most importantly, family. American culture is about equality, freedom, and individualism. These two cultures are very important and unique within themselves and deserving of study from the other group. Project Description Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Mexican Culture Diagram Project Description Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture MUSIC/ DANCE ,..'=~-::= HISTORY User Diagram Project Description Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture MEXICAN CULTURE B ROUGHT INTO THE U.S. F k!OM MEXICO B Y MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS MEX-AM CULTURE NON-MEX. ADAPTATION MADE WITHIN THE U.S. BY CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS MEX-AM. NON-MEX CULTURE INFLUENCE OF U.S. CULTURE A ND SOCIETY ON MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS IN TH E U.S. EXPLORATION I NTERACTION I CULTURE Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Mexican culture in general can be summed up in one word: family. Every aspect of a person's life is associated and celebrated with family, from birth to death. When one makes a decision, it is made with family in mind, when one is passing through a joyful or painful moment in life, family support is always present. It is the family that gives one strength and desire to succeed in life. Whether for better or worse, family is the foundation for a majority of Mexicans. When considering a location for a center where all people of Mexican background, and for those with no Mexican background can visit, many criteria must be considered. One of the major criteria is a location with a large number of Mexicans as residents. Although the center would serve as a resource center for all people interested in acquiring more knowledge of the Mexican culture, the main user intended for are all those with Mexican origin. A sense of community like that of a community in Mexico provides security and familiarity in the American culture. While the sense of community aids in the process of a clearer identity within an American society, it must be made stronger. As a Mexican-American, a person is neither fully accepted as an American by Anglo-Saxons nor as a Mexican by Mexicans, where then does this person fit? Growing up with this situation can be both devastating and complex. Even Mexican immigrants themselves reach a point where they feel out of place in either situation. This center would serve as a means to self identity and belonging to either side of the situation, either with the American culture or the Mexican culture, and hopefully facilitate future endeavors. Close proximity to a main Mexican attraction area is essential. Many Mexican immigrants work long hours during the week and do not have enough leisure time for exploration of the surroundings, for example, driving around town hoping to run into something interesting. Mexicans usually have a destination, Site Site therefore setting the center in close proximity to a popular Mexican area, close to popular markets and entertainment areas, would create a more accessibility and more frequent use. Public transportation is used frequently by many teenagers, locating the center along or near public transportation would provide more and better access to the younger generation. While many parents would not be able to provide vehicular transportation for their children during the week, other means of transportation would be essential. As the location for the Mexican Cultural Center, West Valley City, Utah is an exceptional one. In 2000, the population of West Valley City was 108,896 out of which 18.5% were Hispanic; the figures in both categories have grown since. WVC is perhaps, the core of the Salt Lake Valley where Mexicans can certainly go to in search of some of Mexico's exquisite items, whether food or clothing. The part of WVC that is intended to be the city's center includes an outdoor and indoor swap meet, along with other major retails which attract Mexicans from the Salt Lake Valley year-round. The proposed site for this project is located within the city center area of WVC. It is within walking proximity to the outdoor swap meet which is a major destination of Mexicans. Other Mexican attractions which include markets and stores are also in close proximity to the site chosen. While the majority of Mexicans that visit these attractions arrive by vehicular access, public transportation is greatly accessible by or near the site, some live within walking distance. A strong sense of Mexican community exists around the site, taking advantage of it will only benefit the project. One of the most critical factors for a project like this to succeed is to locate it within a strong Mexican community, an area that is frequently visited by the majority of the Mexicans in the area. It has to be planned for the people, in a familiar place by the people, and in a place that will benefit the people. More than Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Site a resource center, the complex is meant to be a representation of a combination of the old culture and the new culture, in other words, being Mexican in the U.S. Practicing our ancestors' culture and traditions while adapting a new culture for our children. Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 10 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture MEXICAN STATISTICS IN UTAH ~:':':.' ,.o_U 1.0_1.9 ' .1 . '-" "-1.' F .. , ..... . /"' ..... .... LOCATION WITHIN SALT LAKE VALLEY • DalaClassea ~;:;'~:' I.' -•. , • .• _ 17.' It. ) • n.' lI.' . 41.' Fuluros I'" "', .... RoiII S\f*~'UllOdy P/ ~ltt_ .. t~ i -- _. WEST VALLEY CITY i i ; _. i SUT ~ .. lIuJIIIAy 11 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture SITE LOCATION AND WEST VALLEY CITY ZONING _ A, A-1 (Agriculture) _ B/RP (Business Park) _ C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) _ C-2 (Geneml Commercial) _ C-3 (Tmnsitional Commercial) _ M, M (DR) (Manufacturing) _ MXD (Mixed Use) 2100 S 27 00 S b~>-- ;: 4 100 S o o ~ ,"r;~: -'--"""4'10-0 :S- ,~-J N g Planning Districts :i: D City Centre t:J Decker l ake L:J Granger Hunter D l ake Park - NW Quadrant D l ake Park - Bangerter D Wesl Ridge ~ N _ R-1-4, R-1-6, R-1-7, R-1-8, (Single Family Residcntial) R-1-8 DP, R-1-10, R-1-12 _ R-1-20 (Single Fami ly Residential) _ R-2-6, R-2-6 .5, R-2-8 (D"pb) _ R-4-8.5 (Multi-Family) _ RB (Residential Business) _ RM, RM (PDA) (Multi-Family) _ RMH (Mobile Home) ~ Overlay Zones ~ .. ---------------------. \ \ ' \\ ~~ \\ \\ 12 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 13 Site Analysis Site East Side Frontage West Side Frontage Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 14 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture E-CENTER REDWOOD ROAD INDOOR SWAPMEET VALLEY FAIR MALL REDWOOD ROAD OUTDOOR SWAPMEET S ITE 15 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture SUN ANGLES AND CIVILIAN ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR S PRING SUMMER FALL WINTER --- MEXICAN ASIAN RETAIL SITE 16 Site Analysis Site Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: UTA Bus R OUTE M AP ACCESSIBILITY: PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCO::: .. ' .. O, LlTY .. 0 .. L.OCAL. .. O::: .. 'DO::: ... T .. A N D f>AT .. O", .. 0 .. TH O::: ,-OCAL. .. O:::TA ' L.O::: ..... _ PEDESTRIAN _ VEH ICULAR 17 Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Location: Noumea, New Caledonia 1998 Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa Client: Agence de Developpement de la Culture Kanak Precedents With help from the Agence de Developpement de la Culture Kanak (ADCK), the local people and the widow of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the leader of the New Caledonian independence movement against the French, Renzo Piano designed and constructed the Cultural Center Jean Marie Tjibaou. Renzo Piano did not copy the Kanak culture but rather studied every aspect possible about the local culture, buildings and nature in order to understand them and then took what was learned and applied it into the design of the project. Tjibaou wanted his people to become part of the modern world he had been aware of the need for his people to come to terms with their past and create a balance between the traditional and modern world culture. This is what Piano aimed for and successfully accomplished with his design of the center. With help from the Agence de Developpement de la Culture Kanak (ADCK), the local people and the widow of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, the leader of the New Caledo-nian independence movement against the French, Renzo Piano designed and con-structed the Cultural Center Jean Marie Tjibaou. Renzo Piano did not copy the Kanak culture but rather studied every aspect possible about the local culture, buildings and nature in order to understand them and then took what was learned and applied it into the design of the project. Tjibaou wanted his people to become part of the modern world he had been aware of the need for his people to come to terms with their past and create a balance between the tradi-tional and modern world culture. This is what Piano aimed for and successfully accomplished with his design of the center. Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Location: Noumea, New Caledonia 1998 Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa Client: Agence de Developpement de la Culture Kanak Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 18 Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Wind Diagrams Hut Diagrams Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Wind Diagrams Hut Diagrams Kanak Location and Sketches Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture -, i papua, new gU111ca fiji \ australia new ~aled0l1ia new zealand $0 100 ...... so 100 ... VANUATU Erromango~ Cora/Sea -~. 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( i :.-- J - .-.j.. 19 Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Kanak Building Techniques Modern Building Techniques Kanak Construction Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture KANAK BUILDING TECHNIQUES MODERN BUILDING TECHNIQUES 20 Site Section Elevation Site Plan Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Kanak Village Plan Site Section Elevation Site Plan Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Kanak Village Plan Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Drawings Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture SITE PLAN KANAK VILLAGE PLAN SITE SECTION ELEVATION 21 Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Garden Layout Cultural Center Jean-Marie Tjibaou Garden Layout Kanak Garden Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture GARDEN LAYOUT .... .. ~'" ~- .. 22 Skirball Museum and Cultural Center Location: Los Angeles, CA 1995 Architect: Moshe Safdie Precedents Skirball Museum and Cultural Center Location: Los Angeles, CA 1995 Architect: Moshe Safdie The Skirball Cultural Center and Museum offers many services to both Jewish and non-Jewish people. The main goal is to educate and serve the entire community in the vacinity as well as nation wide. The center offers services that are related to the Jewish culture and some that are not. Using this project as a programmatic precedent is beneficial to my project. The Skirball Cultural Center and Museum offers many ser-vices to both Jewish and non-Jewish people. The main goal is to educate and serve the entire community in the vacinity as well as nation wide. The center offers services that are related to the Jew-ish culture and some that are not. Using this project as a program-matic precedent is beneficial to my project. Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 23 Skirball Museum Location and sketches Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture -'-13 0 • ~ I :" '" .-, .. • / _. ..... , ~ ".. , ,, 0 ~::-;. .... ----"" ~., '\, I;) ! _. I , =-:t, -~ + =~ e e .~, , Skirball Museum Program Spaces Precedent 24 Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 1. Offices - 2. Roof 3. Children's Discovery Ce'Tlier 4. Ballroom - 5. M'useum storage - 6, Main e'TIirance - 7. Permanent exhi· - bitions ,...-'I " 8. Temporary - exhibitions 9. Gift shop - 10. Cafe - 11. Donor clYurtyam 12. 'l'errace - 1,1. Auditorium - 14. Academic courtyard 15. Conference mom 16. Classroom - 17. LibraTlj - 18. Communication - center 19. Amp/t'itheater - 25 Risking everything for a better life... Hard working immigrants... My Inspiration My Inspiration Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture HARD WORKING IMMIGRANT6 ... RI6KING EVERYTHING FOR A BETTER LIFE ... 26 Holding on to origin... Taking Pride in the new country as well as the home country... My Inspiration My Inspiration Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture TAKING PRIDE IN THE NEW COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE HOME COUNTRY ... HOLDING ON TO ORIGIN ... 27 Desire to succeed. My Inspiration My Inspiration Precedents Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture DESIRE TO SUCCEED. 28 Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Program The Mexican Cultural Center will be an organization for all Mexicans that have come to the U.S. in search of a better life. It will provide Mexicans in the U.S. with services ranging from legal to employment, recent newcomers will benefit from these services which facilitate the drastic changes of going from one country to another. In the process of acclimating to the new life in the U.S., immigrants lose some of their identity and culture; this loss is greater with the younger Mexican generations born in the U.S. This will be a place to acquire some of that knowledge of their roots and origin diminishing any hardships created among people of different race or at times with people of the same race. Being Mexican-American means being and having qualities of both cultures. However, as it is more accessible to learn the American culture in the education system, the Mexican culture is not taught in a formal manner in the U.S. If parents and family do not teach their children the values and elements of the Mexican culture than the child does not have thorough resources of acquiring the knowledge. These limitations should not be an impediment for a person to learn about their origin. Furthermore, the Mexican Cultural Center will help lessening any affliction that a Mexican-American might undergo for not being accepted completely by either group, American or Mexican. The Mexican Cultural Center of this category calls for a program which provides spaces where a person can learn from both cultures, Mexican and American. While the greater focus will be on the Mexican culture, the adaptation and transformation of the culture taking place in the U.S. is essential. To broaden knowledge and understanding towards Mexican culture and its people the center will welcome all people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Location and access will be very crucial: walking proximity, vehicular access, public transportation and the site being within a known large Mexican population are equally important. The complex should pull visitors in. The building should be inviting yet have a strong visual 29 Program presence expressing rich Mexican culture within the architecture. Once inside one of the first encounters will be the temporary exhibition hall where various types of art and artifacts will be on display short-term. These temporary exhibitions will help raise interest in the visitor about the rest of the center services as well as provide a layer of information about the Mexican community. CULTURE SPACES Necessary spaces required within the complex in order to achieve understanding and enable some acquaintances within the people include educational classrooms. In order to achieve some type of understanding towards an unknown group it is essential to get some facts about the history, culture and their country of origin. Classes that would provide history and a basic understanding of the culture would be available. The past history of Mexico is as important as the present and future of its citizens both in Mexico and the U.S. One out of six Mexicans reside in the U.S. and both the U.S. economy and society are affected by this.1 Learning about these inevitable changes from various points of views would diminish any ignorance about any matter or situation and possibly help many to realize that due to the increase in border patrol policies more and more Mexicans are bringing their families into the U.S. and are staying in the U.S. Children will require very different services and classes from those of adults. More interactive and playful classes would be offered for children of all ages. Both Spanish and English language classes would be offered while incorporating Mexican culture. Learning, socializing, and sports would be encouraged at all times in an easy, friendly learning environment. In addition to the classrooms, cultural workshops would be held on a monthly basis which would offer visitors an opportunity to experience some of the many rituals, practices, and customs of traditional and contemporary Mexico. Making piñatas, weaving, Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Culture Diagram 30 Program playing loteria, making festive decorations would be but a few of activities offered. More than just customary classrooms, these workshops would not only provide learning through books and other hard sources but also give a hands-on environment. Learning through one's own performance is a greater learning experience than just hearing or reading about it. Services for recently arrived Mexicans into the U.S. would provide employment services, translations/legal services, and English language classes among others. Most Mexicans come to the U.S., not knowing anyone or how life is like, to work and earn money to send back home to the family. Providing these services would be lending a helping hand to a person in such time of need, and perhaps lightening the already painful experience of being so far away from home and loved ones. EXPLORATION SPACES While many Mexican-Americans might already have some knowledge of Mexican culture, many do not. Using familiar medias to the young generations, sports and technology in the library, to initially attract them to the center will help build up curiosity to other services in the cultural center expanding interaction and participation of their cultural roots. Exhibition space would house images and artifacts of Mexico and its people. It would provide insight on people, architecture, agriculture, clothing, taste, politics, and more. Sports have become a family pastime in the U.S. for Mexicans. Due to the fact that a lot of Mexicans, especially illegal Mexicans, have to work all day, some even two jobs a day, not a lot of family time is available during the week. After a long week of hard work and busy schedules, a lot of Mexican families play sports by getting together with other relatives or friends at a specific park and enjoy the weekend as a family. A sports field in the Mexican Cultural Center would enable stronger family ties through family Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Exploration Diagram 31 Program pastime, physical activity. At the same time sports will aid in the process of attracting younger generations to the Mexican Cultural Center providing younger people with a means to stay learn about their background while staying out of trouble and becoming more athletic. A Multi-Media Library will provide hard resources such as: books, magazines, and newspapers, videotapes and CDs, both in Spanish and English on various subjects such as art, literature, history, and contemporary affairs referencing Mexico for both children and adults. These sources can either be studied in the reading room provided or in some cases checked out with a membership card. INTERACTION SPACES Similar to Mexican-Americans, non-Mexicans need to be pulled into the cultural center at a slow pace. Services that would attract this group would be the restaurant serving authentic Mexican food, exhibitions, Mexican goods and special events. As a core space of the cultural center will be the jardin, or plaza. The jardin will be reminiscent, but not identical, of the jardin that the majority of towns in Mexico have. The jardines, or central gardens, usually house all the celebrations and events in Mexico, all the towns people gather and enjoy the events together each person contributing to the occasion. In correspondence to some of the celebrations would be the need for an auditorium and an amphitheatre. Where some of the celebrations would be smaller, some would require additional space. The amphitheatre which would house open-air performances and celebrations could be expanded into an adjoining plaza. Due to celebrations and different performances year round, the auditorium and amphitheatre would be in constant use. While the amphitheatre would be used mostly for large celebrations and performances, the auditorium would be used for smaller performances and Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Interaction Diagram 32 Program cinemas. The cinema industry which further enriches Mexican culture includes immortal actors like Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno, Maria Felix, Jorge Negrete, and Pedro Infante, to name just a few. Featuring various types of past and present films would be a method of enhancing understanding for non-Mexicans as well as a tradition for Mexicans. The jardin will be used for celebrations and events as well as to serve as one of the key thresholds for social interaction between Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, and non-Mexicans as services for all user groups will branch of this space. SERVICE SPACES An essential part of a complex is the supporting services. These services will include administration, mechanical, loading dock, restrooms, storage and circulation. All of these elements along with location and access will aid in the success of the center. The Mexican Cultural Center is in Utah due to the great number of Mexicans in the state, approximately 136,416 which is about 70% of all Hispanics.1 West Valley City will be the location of the center due to its ethnic diversity and largest Mexican population in the Salt Lake Valley.2 The site is located within the city's center because it is the main attraction and shopping district for Mexicans around the area. Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Service Diagram 33 Program Multi-Media 4700 sf Sports Arena 2000 sf (Lockers) Resturant 1725 sf Exhibition Space 6000 sf Auditorium/ 7200 sf Amphitheatre Exterior Space Mexican Goods 700 sf Administration 1250 sf Service Spaces 19068 sf Classrooms 8500 sf Workshops 1000 sf Employ. Services 1500 sf Translation/ Legal Services 1500 sf Family Services 2000 sf Service Culture Interaction Exploration Program Diagram Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture CLASSROOMS B500 SF I WORKSHOPS - 1000 SF EMPLOY. SERVICES 1 500 SF r TRANSLATION/ - LEGAL SERVICES 1 500 SF FAMILY SERVICES -- 2000 SF MULTI-MEDIA 4700 SF SPORTS ARENA -- 2000 SF (LOCKERS) RESTURANT - 1725 SF EXHIBITION SPACE 6000 SF AUDITORIUM/ 7200 SF rn Z rr1 n AMPHITHEATRE rr1 -I >< C EXTERIOR SPACE <;:c ;r:rc1 1r ] ~ MEXICAN GOODS - n » 0 c 700 SF rr1 n ;:c ;:c I ~ rr1 ADMINISTRATION - - 1250 SF 0 0 Z Z SERVICE SPACES 1 906B SF 34 Program Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Diagram Tertiary Spaces Secondary Spaces Primary Spaces Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Diagram Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture sports field restaurant chi ldren's lang. employ (Jl Q) cooking dance musIc classes classes services 0 ooding dock OJ .~ mechanical u Q) (Jl ~orage ~ .~ art hist . ang workshops trans/ E Itlgal ..0.. . auditorium/ library amphitheatre ~ c Jardin c c 0 0"c :.;:0-; Eo..".~, E__ 'L" "L PRIMAR ~x "" -"X " • SECOND Y SPACES ARY SPACES Mexican Goods • TERTIAR Y SPACES 35 Program Adjacencies Program Adjacencies Diagram Program Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture sports f ield restaurant chi ldren 's lang. employ UJ oading dock cooking dance music classes classes services .suQ;J UJ "- mechanical QJ QJ U UJ ~to rage :;:: 2"- .... 0 .- art hist. ang workshops tra ns/ E leaal ..0. . auditoriumt amphithea re library .... 0:::: Jardin 0:::: 0:::: 0 1c01:::t::0:.:- aE..e:2 E~ -II.£..: II .. II 11.11 Mexican Goods 36 Public, Private, Semi-Public Diagram Semi-Public Spaces Private Spaces Public Spaces Public, Private, Semi-Public Diagram Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture sports field re staurant children's lang. employ ID oading dock Ul cooking dance music classes classes services 'GfI tnechanical ., u II istorage ~ ..... >. 0 art hist. ang workehops trans/ 'f 18001 .E auditoriumt amphith80 re library ~ c Jardin c c 0 " 0 o...~ §:e E", E'" "L PUBLIC c-L ~ x " X '" "-" • PRIVATE SPACE6 SPACE6 Mexican Goods • SEMI-PU BLiC SPACE6 37 Indoor/Outdoor Diagram Outdoor Both Indoor Indoor/Outdoor Diagram Program Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture sports field restaurant chi ldren 's lang. employ 'Q"J cooking dance music classes classes se rvices u aading dock .s; '" '- mechanical OJ OJ U ~tora ge :.= '" ~ ..... 0 .- art hist . ang workshops tra ns/ E 0 legal ..... audit o riu~{ amphithea t te library ~ c jatrJtI c c 0 COJ ._0 o...~ o~ E", E'" <!}L INDOOR '- L ~x "OJ- QXJ '" • OUTDOO R Mexican Goods • BOTH 38 Hours of Use Diagram open untill 1am on special ocassions 10am-10pm 9am - 6pm all week Hours of Use Diagram Program Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture restaurant cooking dance oading dock UJ mechanical w u r>torage :....=.. 0 art hist. ang auditoriumt amphitheo re ..c.:. c: 0c:: : jatrJtI ocQ:): t.0:-: Eo.:iEe E:f! II.£: ... .<: -x Q) x ., Q.Q) Mexican Goods sports field children's long. music classes classes workshops library employ (Jl Q) services 0 .~ Q) (Jl ~ trans/ E leaal ..0. . gAM - 6 PM ALL WEEK • 1 OAM- 1 OPM . OPEN u NTILL 1 AM ON 6PECIAL OCA6610N6 39 Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Program Spaces Program CULTURE 14,500 sf Classrooms Learning spaces for all visitors who wish to learn more in depth about Mexican culture and its people 8500 sf History History of Mexico and its people from Precolombian to present 20 people 1 600 sf 600 sf Language Learning english and/or spanish 10 people 1 500 sf 500 sf Art studios Learning art techniques and styles ranging from oil paint to 10 people 2 @ 1000 sf 2000 sf Limited natural lighting Cleaning area Sinks, counters included Storage area Shelves included Cooking - Kitchen Cooking and exchanging authentic Mexican recipes 15 people 1 1500 sf 1500 sf Cleaning area Sinks, counters included Storage area Shelves for cooking utensils and refrigeration for recipe ingredients included Dancing Learning space of traditional Mexican dances and new dances 15 people 1 1500 sf 1500 sf Limited lighting and acoustics required Music Learning traditional Mexican music and making new music 15 people 1 1000 sf 1000 sf Limited lighting and acoustics required Storage area To store music equipment and instruments included Children's Classes History, language, art, etc. 20 people 2 @ 700 sf 1400 sf Natural lighting, close to outdoors Cutural Workshops Short-term hands-on learning activities 1 1000 sf 1000 sf Both interior & exterior spaces Employment Services Employment searching 1 1500 sf 1500 sf office included Translations/Legal Services Laws, i.d., taxes, legal status 1 1500 sf 1500 sf office included Family Services Services will include counseling on marriage, family planning, 1 2000 sf 2000 sf f inances, adaptation to U.S. society EXPLORATION 6700. Multi-Media Room 4700 sf office 1 100 sf 100 sf Storage area Archives, special collections, e tc. 1 600 sf 600 sf Traditional Area Open Stacks: books, newspaper, magazines 20 people 1 2000 sf 2000 sf Digital Area Internet, CDs, videos 15 people 1 1000 sf 1000 sf Individual computer stations with internet Reading room Natural lighting, tables, comfortable seats 25 people 1 1000 sf 1000 sf Sports Arena Exterior space for soccer, baseball, etc. 2000 sf Gym Locker rooms Showers, dressing 25 people 2 @ 1000 sf 2000 sf 40 Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Program Spaces Program Restaurant Authentic Mexican food 1725 sf ki tchen Freezer, large storage, large working area 600 sf 600 sf seating area Natural light 75 people 15 1125sf more storage and what types? Exhibition Spaces Controlled direct or indirect lighting 6000 sf Temporary Art, film, artifacts 2000 sf 2000 sf Permanent Artifacts, art 4000 sf 4000 sf AuditoriumlTheatre Cinema, performances 7200 sf AcoustiC$, various mechanical lighting, no natural lighting Stage 1 600 sf 600 sf Seating 400 people 1 12 sf 4800 sf Dressing rooms 20 people 2@ 600 sf 1200 sf Storage area Mechanical equipment, drapes,etc. 1 600 sf 600 sf Amphitheatre Celebrations, performances 250 people 9 2250 sf Exterior space, adjacent to plaza Mexican Goods Store Authentic Mexican goods 500 sf 700 sf Natural lighting, close to perm. Exhibition SERVICE 0,3 Administration Director's office Natural light 1 150 sf 150 sf Offices Nalurallighl 3@ 100 sf 300 sf Storage area Office supplies 1 300 sf 300 sf Meeting room Natural light 15 people 500 sf 500 sf Service Spaces Restrooms 6@ 400 sf 2400 sf Loading Dock 1 800 sf 800 sf Temporary Exhibition Storage Next 10 loading dock 1500 sf 1500 sf Mechanical 20% of total area 8210 sf Circulation 15% of total area 6158 sf Total Interior Area 55,418 sf 41 Acuna, Rodolfo. Occupied America: A History of Chicanos. 4th ed. United States: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 2000. Bosma, Harke A., and E. Saskia Kunnen, eds. Identity and Emotion: Development through Self-Organization. Paris: Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and Cambridge University Press, 2001. This book focuses on the individual development of self and identity and the processes involved. Cognitions, emotions, and context are elements that are accredited in the process of identity. By learning of the development of self and identity I hope to better understand what some of the issues concerning the lack of interest towards immigrants and their culture might be. I want to be able to listen to all types of opinions without feeling discrimination or defensive the moment someone has a different opinion than mine. Bustamante, Charles J., and Patricia L. Bustamante. The Mexican- American and The United States. 1969. This book is very interesting because not only does it tell about the history of Mexico but it is from the point of view of two Mexican- Americans, a person that is from Mexican descent but born and raised in the United States. Having two points of view, on one hand that of a Mexican and on the other that of an American, will enable me to get points of view towards these two cultures from someone else that is in the same situation that I am in, being Mexican-American. This will also help me point out and understand some issues that I have probably not realized of before. Chavez, Gloria Tapia. Consulado de Mexico: Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Extranjero. Interviewed on December 9, 2005. Ms. Chavez was of great help with Mexican statistics in Utah and in the types of services that recent immigrants might need in the U.S. Annotated Bibliography Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 42 Davis, Marilyn P. Mexican Voices/American Dreams: An Oral History of Mexican Immigration to the United States. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1990. This book will help give me insight on other Mexican immigrant's experience coming into the U.S. and learn about their hopes and dreams. Hopefully I can find some commonalities among Mexican immigrants that come to the U.S. Durand, Jorge, and Douglas S. Massey, eds. Crossing the Border: Research from the Mexican Migration Project. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2004. This book offers many facts and statistics concerning various issues about Mexican immigrants coming into the United States. Data was collected by the two editors for more than twenty years. This book helps with some of the most common questions made about immigrants: Who are they? Why do they come to the U.S.? How effectively is the U.S. migrant policy in keeping these people out of the U.S.? Gutierrez, David G., ed. Between Two Worlds: Mexican Immigrants in the United States. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources Inc., 1996. Being of Mexican descent and living in America can sometimes be stressful. Learning more of these issues will not able aid me in my design project but also help me define even more my own identity which in turn will enrich my design process and project. Maciel, David R., and Maria Herrera-Sobek, eds. Culture Across Borders: Mexican Immigration & Popular Culture. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press, 1998. Annotated Bibliography Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 43 Ramos, Jorge. The Other Face of America: Chronicles of the Immigrants Shaping Our Future. United States: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. Jorge Ramos listens and writes about dozens of immigrants' life in the United States. How they drastically changed their lives by risking everything: family, history, jobs, and even their own culture in search of a better life and greater opportunities in the U.S. What their dreams are, why they left their country, what they believe lies ahead for them and their families in the U.S. and how they cope with American racism. "Ramos shows that there is a new face in America-one whose colors and countries of origin are as diverse as the country it has adopted as home." Spring, Joel. Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality: A Brief History of te Education of Dominated Cultures in the United States. 2nd ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1997. The author helps explain the Anglo-American bigotry towards Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Mexican Americans which has resulted in educational discrimination and segregation. He provides a background of early efforts by the English colonists and "founding fathers" of civilizing Native Americans involving attempts of deculturalization of their Native American culture in replacement with Anglo-American Protestant culture. Urrutia, Ma. Cristina, and Krystyna Libura. Ecos de la Conquista. 3rd ed. Mexico City: Ediciones Tecolote S.A. de C.V., 1999. This book is another interesting book that tells Mexico's history but from a Mexican's point of view as opposed to a Mexican-American. It will be very helpful for my research and to analyze the different points of view about Mexico and its culture. Annotated Bibliography Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 44 Design Concept and Process Design The idea of the traditional Mexican jardin broken up into two L's and having one of them rotate at an angle to create some tension and dynamic within the spaces around them. Just as an immigrant has to integrate into the way of living in the U.S., the traditional jardin grid breaks up into two but with a sense of harmony as the result of the integration between the two grids. The use of common Mexican architectural elements for familiarity and traditional events in the Mexican culture. Some of the elements include materials, typology, art, water and especially color, lots of color to refelct the festive spirit of Mexico and its people. Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 45 El Jardin: Place for Socializing At All Levels Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 46 Murals Depicting History of Mexico Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 47 Water Elements Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 48 Materials Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture 49 Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture Color Design 50 Site Plan Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture • de '~~~~JJ~~~. ;.j.j.~,~ '. ..,,,, '. 1 L~-----"_" " " '",,,,,,,,,, o I '0 n o II o .!;;) u '-'~-# ""'.I-""'l~ , JJ.J , , , , , y = = = I~I ======:=:; 51 Jardin Level Floor Plan Design Mexican Cultural Center Cultural Integration Through Architecture ~(#(#CIC)(#!~(,j~. ~ [ ,'. 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