santos bolivar designs faceted media perra brewery in mexico's baja california desert

sited in baja california, mexico, this brewery designed by santos bolivar studio is an experiment in origami paper folding techniques translated in sheet metal. the firm’s attention to craftsmanship reflects that of the craft beer that is offered at the media perra brewery. the formal technique of folded steel allows the team at santos bolivar to mimic the image of the distant ridge lines surrounding mountains, and build the main structure only with folds that will form walls and roofs, and créate a volumetry of media perra.

images by photomark, jaime brambila salgado, and miguel angel mayoral rodriguez

the designers at santos bolivar prioritize the use of environmentally sustainable techniques in every project. each angle had been determined by an analysis of the solar path. designers at santos bolivar incorporate overhead perforations to allow natural light to filter into the tasting room. while the outer layer of the building consists of a layer of straw in between two layers of rusted metal, the interior walls are made of adobe block in reference to the trademark material of the kumiai natives living near by.

designers determined the orientation of the building so as to take advantage of the site’s natural resources. the brewery, located in a very dry area with extreme weather conditions, is naturally ventilated. the angles of the roof accumulate water, and interior lighting is made of recycle bottles with water. the furniture and doors are made of recycled metal. the brewery is sited nearby santos bolivar’s latest project, the casa media perra.