Download - El Centro Poster Series
ThisprojectwasbornfrommyfascinationofElCentro,thetownsquare,andthewayitisutilizedduringtheFeria.Itmorphsintoaweeklymarketplace(plaza),acarnival,adancehall,apublicparkandashoppingcenteralmostseamlessly.Itisalsoslowlygrowingintoapermannentmarket(mer-cado).Andduringthefairitisanextremelyflexiblespacethathastheabilitytoaccomodatetheneedsoftwodifferentworlds:thetownspeoplewholivehereyear-roundandthereturningpopulationduringthefestival. Theinformationforthisprojectwasobtainedthroughdirectobservationandinteractionwiththespaceofthetownsquareandthosewhouseit.
El Centro ProjectPiaxtla | Puebla | Mexico
Map of Piaxtla with the main square (El Centro) and main highway highlighted.
A) Map of Mexico showing the location of the state of Puebla. B) Map of Puebla showing the location of the municipality of Piaxtla.
Photograph taken in 1942 from the northern mountain. It shows the most important elements in a Mexican community: 1) the church 2) the Market place 3) the public park 4) and the Municipal building
The plaza is a weekly market where vendors gather to sell their goods in Piaxtla. This event enables townspeople to do their shopping of fresh pro-
duce along with most items needed throughout the week and eliminates the need for supermarkets or large retail stores.
The festival is a celebration devoted to the Virgin of the Ascension and many ceremonies and events are held. Many carnival rides and booths are
invited to participate, and this gives the town a nocturnal quality that doesn’t exist throughout the rest of the year. Whereas the market place and
the plaza are used by locals and visitors for necesities, the feria serves mostly recreational purposes.
This phtograph taken from the southern mountain 70 years later shows that the town expands concentrically around El Centro. The four structures have remained important.
This photgraph shows the market place (mercado) in use in 1942, where vendors could gather to
sell their goods. This commercial method has been in use since precolumbian times.
This fountain was constructed near the church and was meant to represent the core of the town. Still a very important structure, the market place (mercado) has grown exponentially to acco-
modate a growing population. This shed is used for the weekly Plaza market and for important
events and gatherings especially during the festival (feria). It is also slowly transforming into a
permanent market place like those found in larger Mexican cities such as Puebla and Oaxaca.
The fountain has been replaced by a “kiosko”, a small pavilion for taking refreshment.
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El Centro | TheSquare
La Plaza | TheWeeklyMarket
La Feria | TheFestival
Nataly Rojas M.Arch,
Independent Study
Faculty: Howard Davis
University of Oregon
Summer & Fall 2012
PiaxtlaisatownlocatedinthesouthoftheMexicanstateofPuebla.AlargepartofitspopulationhasmigratedtotheU.S.tofindworkandmoneyandabetterlife.Manyofthemsendmoneybacktotheirfamily.Theseremit-tencesfuelthelocaleconomyandhaveanimpactonthesocialandphycsicalstructureofthetown.Perhapsthebesttimetoseethisimpactisduringthefestivaldevotedtothetown’spatronsaint.InPiaxtla,thetownholdsayearlyeventtopayhomagetoLaVirgendelaAsuncion,VirginoftheAscension. Thefestival(laFeria)isthemostimportanteventinPiaxtlaandrunsthroughthemonthofAugust.ThisisthetimethatmanywhoarelivingintheU.S.returntoPiaxtlatospendtimewithfamilyandreconnectwithtraditions.AsmoremoneyissentfromtheU.S.thefestivalbecomesmoreandmoreextravagantwhichinturnmotivatesim-migrantstoreturntoexperiencethecelebration.
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Antonia Manuel German & Juana
Symbol Key
Mobile Stalls: Vendors whose wares are small enough to be carried through the market place. Some examples are blankets, wire mesh stands and small carts.
Booths: Assembled structures that protect vendors and their goods from the elements and act as shelter through the month.
Rides: Amusement rides that include a carousel, bumper cars, ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl. Also arcade houses and trampolines.
Table Stalls: Stalls created by joining tables for displaying goods. Primarily found within the shed which provides cover.
El Mercado: The shed (el jacalón) at the center of town has been used primarily to hold major events and the weekly plaza. It has begun to be used by resident vendors to sell produce, food and other goods on a daily basis.
La Plaza: The plaza is a traditional “farmer’s market”. Every wednesday local vendors set up in the town square to sell everything from household items to livestock. This lasts from sun-up to sun-down.
La Feria: The fair is an annual festivity held during the month of August. Vendors from all over Mexico are invited, along with carnival booths and rides. They are primarily out-of-towners whose booths serve as their shelter for the duration of the fair.
Color Key
August 8th 2012First Plaza of the month.
Vehicles: Many of the vendors transport their goods using cars and trucks. These fill space around the main square.
AntoniaisaresidentofPiaxtlaandavendorthatsellsgrilledcorn
inthezocalo.Shetoldmethatcomparedtootherpeopleshehad
theluxuryofgoinghomeeverynightandsleepingonherownbed.
Howeverifthiswasnotthecaseshewouldnothaveaproblem
stayinginthezocalosinceshebelievesittobesafeandaproduc-
tivewayofkeepingthemerchandiseinoneplace.Atnightshelocks
everythingtothebenchsheusesashervendingpostandreturns
thenextdaywithcornforgrillingandthetraditionaltoppingsof
chilepowder,limeandsalt.Herstandisapublicbench,asmall
tableandasmallcharcoalgrill.Thisisherfirsttimesellingcornin
thezocalo,andknowsthatthefestivalisagreattimetomakeextra
money.ThoughshehaschildrenwhoareworkingintheU.S.she
doesn’tliketojustsitandwaitforthemtosendhermoney,asshe
believesmanyinthetowndo.AtthebeginningofthemonthAn-
toniawasinthezocalobyherselfandlatershewasjoinedbyher
husbandandgranddaughterwhowouldkepthercompany.Since
Antonialocksherpropertytothemetalbenchithascreatedasmall
circlewherepeoplethatsheknowsgather,thisisalsoenforced
sinceherfriendhasalsosetupshopinfrontofher,sellinggumand
candy.Theyenjoyedbeingabletochatinthetimebetweensales.
Manuelsellssmalltrincketslikethepopularturtlebobble-heads
madeofsmallgourdsandwoodfor25pesos($2.00).Hecameto
PiaxtlawithhismotherwhohasbeencomingtotheFeriaforthe
last5years.Manueltoldusthattheymoveallyearround,selling
knickknacksandcrafts.Theirtripbeginsintheirhometownand
takesthemallaroundMexico.Theyexplainthattheyusedtobeable
totravelbybusbutthatisnowdifficultbecausebuslinesarenot
beingasaccommodatingduetotheirlargequantitiesofmerchan-
diseandtheirboothcomponents.Nowtheymusthiretruckdrivers
thattakethemtotheirdestinationforafee.Forthedurationofthe
festivaltheyliveintheirboothtokeepaneyeontheirmerchandise.
German&Juanacreatepersonalizedbraceletsbywrappingcolor-
fulthreadtoastripofplastic.Thecouplemadethemselvesstand
outfromothersofthesametradebytheirquicknessanddesigns.
Theyholdacustom-madestandthatholdspre-madebraceletswith
popularnamesandcolors.Theirstandiscomprisedofthreehinged
boardsthatcanbefoldedandeasilycarried.Whenacustomerap-
proachesthem,theysetdowntheirboardtodisplaytheirwork.
Theyhaveasmallnotebookwheretheywritetherequestednames
orwordsstrugglingabitwithspelling.Thecoupleplacethemselves
inthezocalonearthekioskoandawaitforpasserbys.Theirthree
childrensitpatiently,usingcardboardtomakethecementsofter
andcooler,astheylearnthecraftsoftheirparents.Theyexplain
thattheyhavelearnedmanycraftsandskillsintheircityofTaxco,
locatedintheneighboringstateofGuerrero.Butthebraceletsallow
themtotravellightandareverypopular,especiallywiththeyoung
peoplethatarevisitingfromtheU.S.Otherthantheirdisplaythey
haveabackpackinwhichtheycarrytheirmaterialsandonebench
forJuanatositon.Theyalsocarrywiththemaplastictarpthatthey
useasaprotectivecanopy.Theirestablishmentreliesontheirplace-
mentsincetheyareintheverycenterofthezocalotheycanuse
thecementbenchofthezocaloasasittingplace,eatingplaceand
restingarea.
Vendors
Vendor Stalls
Section: North to south. Mercado and kiosko
LupeisoriginallyfromChinantlaanearbytown(it’sdividedfrom
Piaxtlabyastreet).ShemovedtoPiaxtlabecausethereshehadthe
opportunityofputtingupherownbusiness.Shedecidedthatveg-
etableswouldbethebestproducttosellsincethetowndoesnot
haveasupermarketandhasaccesstofreshproduceonlyduring
thePlazaonwednesdays.SincethemercadoinPiaxtlaisanopen
shed,itwaseasyforhertoset-upandinthisyearherbusinesshas
grownfromhavingatableofproducetohavingsixtablesstacked
withfruits,vegetablesandflowers.LupetravelstoAcatalntofind
freshproduceonceaweekandreliesonherchildrenorhusbandto
takecareofthestand,whichhasbecomeapermanentfixtureofthe
mercado.
Lupe
Mariawasveryhappytobesellinginthetown,shewasastrong
believerofthequalityofthesweetsthatshesells.Sheofferedall
kindsoftraditionalMexicansweets,suchaschilcacayote,ared
candiedsquashandfamoussweetpotatotreatknownascamote.
Sheencouragedhercustomerstosamplehermerchandisetoprove
itsquality.Shebelievedthatthefreshnessofhersweetswerewhat
maintainedhercustomershappy.Shetookturnswithherhusband
andsontravellingbackandforthfromhertowntotransportfresh
productswhensheranlow.MariaarrivedinPiaxtlaaftergoingtoa
festivalinthecityofAcatlanandwasplanningtostaythereforthe
remainderoftheweekwithhersonwhileherhusbandlefttosetup
forafestivalinCholula.Theysleptintheirbooth,whichmeasured
tenfeetinlengthbyadepthofsixfeet.Shewaslocatedinthewest-
ernedgeofthezocalo,surroundedbyotherboothsthatalsosold
sweets.Shefeltthatthecompetitionwasessentialformaintaininga
highqualityproduct.
InesisaresidentofPiaxtla.Butcheringandmeatsellinghavebeen
herfamily’stradeforgenerationsandtheyarealsoknownfortheir
pozole(awhitehominysoup)andtheirtacos.Shecanbefound
sellingfoodinthemercadoonsomedaysandsellingmeatdur-
ingthewednesdayplaza.Sheexplainedthatthenewpresidenthas
helpedthemerchantsorganizeinthemercadobypavingthefloor
withbricksanddemarcatingpathwaysforcustomerstotraversethe
marketplacewithease.Thepathwaysalsomarkdifferentsections
ofthemarketduringtheplaza,sothatmeatsellersareallinone
place,thebakersinanother,etc.WhiletalkingtoInesothervendors
askediftheycouldsettheirestablishmentnexttoherssinceitwas
emptyandsheexplainedtothemthatthislocationwasformeat
sellers.It’sanewsystemthatalsohassomepoliticalcomplexity.An
associationofvendors,ofwhichInesisamember,pooledmoney
togethertohelpimprovethemercadoandtheshed.Shebelieves
thatthisgrantsthemmorerighttohavetheirbusinesshousedwith-
inthestructureoftheshed.
Ines Maria
Vendors
Stage
August 15th 2012Second Plaza of the month.
5 am
7 am
11 am
1 pm
3 pm
5 pm
PLAZA TIMELINESPLAZA TIMELINE
The weekly market is held every wednesday, though most vendors arrive the night before to set up. The plaza sprawls accross the square and takes a di�erent shape every week. This timeline shows the duration of the plaza from 5 am where the vendors wake to display their merchandise until 5 pm when the square is thouroughly cleaned by municipal waste management.
Elevation: South facade of mercado.
Felipeandhisbrotherwereonlyinthetownforthemainweekof
thefestival.TheycamefromthecityPueblaandoncetheywere
doneinPiaxtlatheyweregoingtoanotherfestivalinCholula.Fe-
lipewasresponsibleforonelargeboothandhisbrotherforanother.
Eachhadacombinationofhandmadewoodenitemsrangingfrom
spoonstobackmassagers.Theyexplainedthattheydidnotfindthe
festivaltobeasprosperousasithadbeeninpastyearsandthata
lotlesspeopleseemedtobeinPiaxtlacomparedtoprioryears.Like
therestofthevendorsthatwerestationedinthezocalotheyslept
intheirboothsandfoundthatthiswasthebestwaytosavemoney
andprotecttheirmerchandise.WhenIaskediftheyfoundthisway
oflivinguncomfortabletheyrespondedthatitwasfinesincetheir
booth,measuringtenfeetinlength,offeredthemmuchmorespace
thanotherpeoplethere.
SantosisparticipatinginPiaxtla’sfestivalforthefirsttime.Heisa
memberoftheOtomitribefromthenorthsectionofthestateof
PueblafromatownasremoteasPiaxtla.HeendedupinPiaxtla
becauseafriendwhohasparticipatedinthefestivalinvitedhim.
HiscraftisatradehelearnedinhishometownintheSierraNorte
ofPuebla.Theregion’sartisansarewellknownforcreatingintricate
andbeautifulobjectsusingbeadworkandbarkpaper.Hefounditto
beverypopularinPiaxtlaandbecauseofthisheplanstocomeback
nextyearandbringothersfromhistown.Santosexplainedthatafter
monthsofsavinghewasfinallyabletopurchasehisstall,which
wasdesignedbyhimandconstructedbyametalsmithinhistown.
Santosexplainedthathedecidedonthemeasurementsbasedon
themoneythathehadatthetime,“ifonehadthemoneytohavea
biggerstalldone”heexplained“thenonecould”.Healsotookinto
considerationtheamountofspacethatheneededforhisworkand
thefactthattownslikePiaxtlachargevendorsafeerelativetothe
dimensionsofthestalls.Theboothisametalframedstructuremea-
suringfivefeetinlengthandadepthof6feet.Thetabletopwhere
heplaceshismerchandiseisthreefeetdeepandrisesthreefeet.
Thetotalheightoftheboothissevenfeetwithagableroof.Putting
thestalltogetherisverysimpleandsincehismerchandiseissmall
hedoesnotusemuchofthespaceunderneathotherthantohave
somepersonalitemsandextramerchandise.Santosexplainedthat
hisboothdidnothaveboardsrisingbetweenthetabletopandthe
floorthatmanyusetosleepon.Insteadhesethisboothagainstthe
thepark,sothathecouldsitontheledgeduringthedayandsleep
onitatnigh.SantoswasoriginallyplanningtostayinPiaxtlafor
twoweeksbutoncehewasthereherealizedthatstayinguntilthe
endofthemonthwasbeneficialsincemanyofthethatweregoing
backtotheU.S.weredoingsoatheendofthemonth.Thisisthe
timethatmanyusetobuylastminutegiftsandsouvenirs.
MartaisfromAcatlan,acityanhourawayfromPiaxtla.Shewasin
townforthedurationofthefestival,sellingclothingfromdifferent
regionsofMexico.Shewasintownforabouttwoweeks,duringthe
firstweekhersonkepthercompanyandinthelastweekherhus-
bandarrivedwithnewmerchandise.Sheexplainedthatsheneeded
helpfrombothofthemassembleanddisassembleherestablish-
mentbecausethemetalbarsaretooheavyforhertodoitalone.
Oncethefestivalisovershewillhiresomeonefromthenexttown
tomoveherthingstothenextfestival.Inpreviousyearsshehad
reliedonpublictransportationbutthishaschangedsincebusesno
longermakeasmanylocalstopsandlimitpickups.Liketheoth-
erswhocomeforthefestival,shesleepsinherboothandrelieson
beingwithhermerchandisetoprotectit.Thebenefitstosleepingin
herbootharenothavingtowastemoneyforhotelsandnothaving
tomovehermerchandise.
Vendors
Felipe Santos Marta
August 22nd 2012Third Plaza of the month.
Elevation: North facade of zocalo and kiosko.
5 am
7 am
11 am
1 pm
3 pm
5 pm
PLAZA TIMELINESMARKET TIMELINE
Though the weekly plaza is organized in a very organic manner, there are new attempts to make business within the shed more orderly. Pathways were made to create sections for di�erent types of vendors. So the meat sellers are grouped together in one section while the baked goods are in another. The mercado is also used during other days of the week though not in the same scale as the weekly market. The schedule is similar however, with people setting up fruit stands and makeshift kitchens for selling food. It is a known fact that in most Mexican cities it is in the market places that you find their culture. The best food, the local styles, regional goods and crafts. And as Piaxtla grows, El Mercado must also adapt.
Theareahassomepermanentconveniencestoresthatareopenall
weeklong.Howeverthelackoffreshproducemakesthemercado
essential.Someoftheretailerscomplainthatthemercadoandthe
plazaweretakingcustomersawaybutwhenobservingtheitems
thataresoldineachestablishmenttheyarenotcompetingwith
eachotherbutcomplementthemselves.
Thechurchisanessentialparttothetown’sorganizationandde-
velopment.SincethemainreasonforthefestivalistheVirginofthe
townthechurchalsogoesthroughsometransformationstoaccom-
modatetheincreaseinpopulation.Whenlargereventsareprepared
inthechurchalargetentisset-uptogooutsidethechurchcreating
a“new”churchinthefrontpartofthechurch,thiswaythefacade
becomesthealtarandthepathtoenterthechurchbecomesthe
centralaisle,whennolargereventsareplanthechurchreturnstoits
commonstate.
August 29th 2012Fourth Plaza day of the month.
Elevation: North facade of the church
Throughoutthemonthaseriesofeventsinpeopleshouseshappen
tocommemoratetheVirgin,Howeverthebiggestandmostim-
portantistheprocessionthathappensonAugust14th.Onthisday
eachyearadifferentpatronfamilyorganizestheeventssurrounding
theVirginandareresponsibleforlayingafloorpatternonthepath
thatwillbeusedbytheprocession.Beginningatthepatronfam-
ily’shometheprocessiongoesthroughmainstreetsandendsatthe
churchwherealargergroupofpeopleawaits.
La Procesion La Iglesia Tiendas La Quema
AbigpartofthefestivalistheQuemawhichisasequenceof
fireworksthatoccurincelebrationofthevirginandthepeo-
plethatwillsoonbereturningtotheUnitedstates.TheQuema
happensinbetweenthemercadoandmunicipalbuildings.
AdditionalObservations
Textures
Tarpsthatprotectmarketstandsfromtheelements.
Detailfromthechurch’sfacade.
Detailfromthemarketplacefloor.
Inadditiontothesocialtextureofthemarket,thetown’scen-
terissurroundedbytexturesandpatternsthatgivethetown
astrongidentityassociatedwiththefestivitiesofthemonth.
Forthemarkettobesuccessfultheremustbeactivitiesoccur-
ingatdifferenttimesofthedaythatsolidifytheidentityofthe
townwhenthemarketisnotinplace.