Designing forms which react to a pattern of public and private uses : transforming a convent for an arts community in Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico

Abstract

This thesis involves the observation and analysis of built relationships in the village of Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico. The result of this study is a design proposal for an arts community which will transform a sixteenth century convent and its adjacent land. The process is context oriented. Following a discussion of the town, built relationships are approached by the process of observation. After establishing the pattern of public paths and places by observing the existing pattern, a series of form parameters are explored through examples: the relationship between public and private, semi-enclosed space, light and markers. These criteria are then applied to the convent building and, finally, to the proposal. In addition, the site required establishing a dialogue between the old and the new.