Habitación 116 Opens Its New Studio With a Furniture Exhibition Inspired by Mexican Crafts and Folk Art
EXHIBITION – NEW STUDIO
Habitación 116 opens its new studio – workshop in Mexico City with a furniture exhibition inspired by Mexican crafts and folk art.
The central piece of the exhibition is a Castillo Pirotécnico (pyrotechnic castle) made in collaboration with master craftsmen from Tultepec in the State of Mexico. The castles are made on the occasion of traditional folk festivals in the towns of Mexico. Tultepec is a town in the State of Mexico, located north of Mexico City. The municipality is characterized by the pyrotechnic activities of which it concentrates around 40% of the national permits for its elaboration, commercialization, and transport; Therefore, since 1997, it is called "The National Capital of Pyrotechnics".
The Castle is made of Garambullo wood and joined with cotton rope covered with Chapopote (a thick substance obtained from oil), which prevents it from being disassembled. The purpose of this exhibition is to promote the trades and techniques of the towns of Tultepec and Puebla.
The new space of 150 m2 and 5 m high was adapted with wooden beams and a concrete plaster on the walls, creating a neutral environment for future workshop explorations. The entrance to the studio is framed with a wooden structure creating a tunnel that focuses the visual to the front.
VARIATIONS BETWEEN THE FULLNESS AND THE VOID
With the ontological relationship between fullness and emptiness given, the idea that they are a strategic complement is a constant and visible abstraction in architecture, design, and other artistic practices.
Tultepec and Brutal collections, a reflection of different execution methods, removing solids and creating voids; chairs, tables, armchairs, and benches are the result of the juxtaposition and correspondence of these elements, in addition to the introduction of textures, materials, and tactile experiences that each item offers, always considering both its utilitarian value and its aesthetic proposal.
TULTEPEC COLLECTION
Tultepec is a furniture line crafted in pucté wood (tropical wood located in southern Mexico) with some variations. The collection is defined by a thin structure with simple lines.
H116 aims to promote the legacy of Mexican pyrotechnic craftsmanship by reviewing the construction systems of this national tradition of fireworks castles, considering their social ritual and formal aesthetics, to finally represent it in a furniture line.
BRUTAL COLLECTION
It is the second line that H116 developed in parallel to Tultepec. It has solid elements of volcanic stone from the state of Puebla (recinto volcánico), carved by artisans from the region, dedicated to developing this mastery since pre-hispanic times, creating monolithic pieces of great plastic force.
The pieces of this collection combine form and function through gestures and details that use the element of the consistent.
This project is the result of multiple collaborations between Mexico City, Tultepec and Puebla, and was possible thanks to the hard work of our design, architecture, and craftsmen team specialized in the tradition of stone-carving and pyrotechnics. Together they contributed their vision, experience, and aesthetic narrative to the final pieces.
The studio specializes in the design and construction of spaces, furniture, and objects, creating a lifestyle and a particular aesthetic that redefines everyday life. Simple line designs and noble materials achieve the balance between aesthetics and comfort. The careful craftsmanship of the workshops and the meticulous curatorship of special pieces give each project a unique personality.
The team consists of a group of architects, master craftsmen, and esthetes dedicated to the creation of the perfect interior space.
Text & Images, Courtesy of Habitación 116
All images by Fabián Martínez
Design team:
Rafael Rivera
Javier Claverie
Alejandro Valencia
Rubén Mercado
