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Nescafe-commissioned Portal of Awareness is a vibrant addition to Mexico City
Edgy design studio Rojkind Arquitectos was selected by international coffee manufacturer Nescafe to design a dynamic public installation as part of an ongoing series with seven other artists. The concept looks to brighten up areas of Mexico City with vibrant artistic pieces, each of which incorporates up to 1,500 metal coffee mugs.
Located on the Paseo de la Reforma, Rojkind Arquitectos’ piece uses 1,497 mugs shifting in a gradual gradient from bright orange to a deep maroon as it arches over the pavement. At 42 sq m in total, the project is modest in size but has made a great impact on the street since its recent completion with pedestrians and cyclists both stopping in their tracks to photograph the structure or contemplate its simple but highly effective design.
Entitled ‘Portal of Awareness’, the installation has been constructed using rebar and a structural steel mesh, with 41 main arches from 10-12m and two more layers of 56 diagonals creating 1,497 nodes for the mugs. Attached to the pavement with a series of planters, the exterior of the structure will eventually become overgrown with lush green foliage, leaving the brightly-hued mugs invisible from the outside.
Rojkind Arquitectos say of their scheme: “The play of the shadow’s patterns cast on the sidewalk adds 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.”
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