AZULIK's roth architecture nestles its tech & innovation lab within the mexican jungle

roth architecture’s HQ and the temple land in Azulik

In the heart of the Mayan Jungle, the AZULIK City of Arts in Uh May, Mexico, now welcomes Roth Architecture’s headquarters and The Temple, which houses the Innovation and Technology team, including the FabLab and Material Research Lab. Founded in 2017 by AZULIK’s founder, Roth, the studio comprises a team of designers, engineers, and researchers dedicated to creating architectural and interior spaces that follow three guiding pillars:  Ancestry, Nature & Art. With these latest additions, Roth Architecture can finally expand its core mission of fostering experimentation and the creation of materials and systems that enrich its concepts. 

The FabLab is a creative space that merges ancestral crafts with contemporary design and new technologies through bespoke materials, construction systems, and computational design solutions. Surrounded by a rich jungle setting, it houses 3D printers, thermoforming machines, laser cutters, and water jets. A synergy between Roth Architecture’s Research and Development and Construction teams creates rapid prototyping, molding, and advanced construction. At a global scale, the FabLab network brings together artisans, artists, and creators to exchange ideas and foster innovation and replication. 

all images courtesy Roth Architecture

a bio-inspired, creative hub exploring tech & craftsmanship

Design-wise, Roth Architecture’s headquarters and The Temple take on dramatic, organic forms within the AZULIK complex, seemingly weaving in and out of the jungle foliage. Each section is clad in window openings that reveal impressive scaling patterns — a testament to the powers of computational designs. The dynamic shapes recall the studio’s Research and Development team, whose approaches to materiality and construction techniques spotlight biodesign, biomaterials, biomimicry, and biophilia. The design also recognizes the importance of contextual awareness and understanding the vernacular language within which the team operates.

Inside, the all-white and raw surfaces give way to different spaces, namely the open-plan office and experimentation/manufacturing rooms where advanced digital fabrication tools are housed: 3D printers, scanners, laser cutting, CNC milling, water jet cutting, and a 6-axis robotic arm which enables the team to engage in the production of fully functional prototypes. The striking contrast between the primitive-like structure and its state-of-the-art technological content ultimately reflects Roth Architecture’s hybrid approach. ‘Through the Fablab and use of technology we can create our own tools and embed new materials, electronics, programming, and digital fabrication into the development of physical and digital prototypes,’ concludes the studio. 

Roth Architecture brings its headquarters and The Temple to AZULIK City of Arts

the building design alludes to biophilic aesthetics

all-white surfaces with openings alluding to scaling patterns

Roth Architecture’s open-plan office space

The Temple houses the FabLab, which is part of the Innovation and Technology team

night time view of the organic shapes, glowing like lanterns

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merging nature, art, and technology amid the Mexican jungle

close-up shot of the exterior design

 

axonometric masterplan

project info:

name: HQ and The Temple

location: AZULIK City of Arts | @azulik, Uh May, Mexico

architects: Roth Architecture | @roth_architecture