concrete lattice facade floods oaxacan community hub with patterned shadows

aidia studio unveils community hub in oaxaca, mexico

Aidia Studio has designed the DIF Center, a community hub located in San Pedro Comitancillo, a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. This project replaces a deteriorated single-level facility that previously operated in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, providing essential community care. The building spans five transverse bays across the site, each topped with a concrete vault. Its facades are adorned with pigmented concrete lattices featuring variable openings that serve to filter light, minimize thermal gains, and ensure privacy for offices and consulting rooms. Natural light floods the interior spaces through the vaults, significantly reducing the need for artificial lighting. The building incorporates diverse textures and concrete tones: curvilinear elements like the staircase and vaults are finished in a smooth, semi-polished terracotta tone, while orthogonal volumes feature an earthy tone with fluted formwork.

all images courtesy of Aidia Studio

DIF Center building features a mixture of textures and patterns

Faced with the challenge of adapting the architectural program to a 212 sqm plot, Aidia Studio divides the program into two levels using an L-shaped layout. This design decongests the ground floor and creates a free area to organize the rest of the program. Access from the street is through a discreet pedestrian door that leads to a narrow hallway and a central patio flanked by a staircase. Adjacent to the patio is a double-height, semi-open, covered area that serves as a flexible space for events, workshops, and meetings, primarily used as a public dining room. The kitchen, next to this area, provides access to a food warehouse and pantries for emergency distributions. The second floor houses a meeting room, two offices, and the management office. 

The architecture studio uses pigmented concrete blocks with a rustic, textured finish for the perimeter fences, creating a backdrop for vegetation accents. Stone textures are enhanced with parota wood carpentry details and rustic ironwork for the railings and window frames. The building as a whole is a play of textures and geometric patterns, maximizing the interplay of light and shadow. As the sun moves across the sky, the lattice produces intricate shadows that traverse the building’s surfaces.

pigmented concrete lattices filter the light

variable openings provide privacy for the offices

curvilinear elements have a smooth, semi-polished finish in a terracotta tone

access from the street is through a discreet pedestrian door that leads to a central patio flanked by a staircase

orthogonal volumes are finished with fluted formwork in an earthy tone

as the sun moves across the sky, the lattice produces intricate shadows

stone textures are enhanced with parota wood details and rustic ironwork for the railings and window frames

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the second floor houses a meeting room, two offices, and the management office

the facade openings enhance shadowplay

natural light floods the spaces from the top of the vaults

a double-height, semi-open, covered area functions as a flexible space for events

the facade reduces thermal gains

project info:

name: Centro DIF Comitancillo
architect: Aidia Studio | @aidiastudio
project directors: Rolando Rodriguez-Leal, Natalia Wrzask
lead architect: Jose Luis Mulás
project team: Nitze Magaña, Ernesto Pinto, Aranzazu Sánchez, Cecilia Simón
location: Comitancillo, Oaxaca, Mexico
structural engineering: Project & Calc
client: SEDATU

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom