BAJO EL MISMO SOL (UNDER THE SAME SUN)
“Este Sol de justicia en toda parte, sin hacer división o diferencia, su clara lumbre de piedad reparte, a ninguno negando su presencia” —Emblemas morales de Sebastián de Covarrubias Orozco (1610) /This powerful Sun shines everywhere, without separating or distinguishing, its clear light of mercy it does share, denying its presence to no one.” — Moral Emblems by Sebastián de Covarrubias Orozco (1610)
The 38th edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair FIL, held in 2024, featured Spain as the Guest of Honor. Under the theme “Camino de ida y vuelta” (Round Trip), its participation, coordinated by Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), sought to portray the image of a plural, diverse, and multicultural country that serves as a communication link between Europe and South America—a bridge connecting both sides of the Atlantic.
We drew inspiration from an emblem by Sebastián de Covarrubias Orozco, where the same sun illuminates two shores, two cities, two countries, the entire world. This image invites a contemporary interpretation that speaks of generosity, empathy, multiplicity, and universality. Diverse cultures, seemingly distant, share common resources and traditions. We understand the “camino de ida y vuelta” as the natural condition of this deep connection: cities facing each other yet close, gazing at one another across the sea, a field, and a shared sun. Our pavilion design stems from this idea of shared space, opening into two cities, two grandstands, and two interconnected labyrinths that mirror each other, creating a place for meetings, dialogue, interaction, community rest, and exchanged perspectives.
The omnipresent and powerful sun in Covarrubias’ image also reminds us of the collective anxiety about global warming—an urgent call to reduce the impact of human activity on the planet. For this reason, we propose a radically sustainable pavilion built with systems and elements based on recycling and circularity, aiming for zero waste. Its construction uses sustainable and reusable materials sourced from local industries and economies (construction scaffolding, recycled cardboard, lightweight wooden frames), as well as materials recovered from other exhibitions and local building sites (such as carpets used in previous fairs, repurposed here for sound absorption).
The pavilion’s design reinterprets the wall-like architecture of Mexico and Spain, using lightweight materials and a structure that favors transparency, interplay of light and shadows, and overlapping perspectives. Rather than a fixed form with specific dimensions, we aimed to create spaces and atmospheres that encourage connection. The proposal was conceived with flexibility in mind, allowing the dimensions of various elements to adapt to needs, content, and available resources.
Although part of the program is planned for the upper level, all public activities are fully accessible on the ground floor. Additionally, the design includes the possibility of installing a lifting platform to ensure accessibility.
The choice of standardized and locally available elements facilitates both the assembly and disassembly of the pavilion, enhancing practicality and reducing its environmental impact.