Paso Nara: Architectural and Design Workshop in Chihuahua
1:1 scale urban interventions designed in Mexico's Chihuahua city.
1New Edition of Taller del Desierto
The Instituto Superior de Arquitectura y Diseño (ISAD) hosted a new edition of Taller del Desierto (Desert Workshop) in summer 2026. This intensive academic program brings together students from various design disciplines to develop 1:1 scale interventions in Chihuahua's urban context. The 18-square-meter project area showcases the transformation of architectural concepts into physical implementations, highlighting the integration of design and construction processes.
2Interdisciplinary Design Team
The project involved over 25 designers and architects including Francisco Granulllo de la Rocha, Abril Ávila Hernández, and Alan Meléndez Peña. Led by Alexis Pereda Chánez, the team integrated design, material experiments, and fabrication processes over four weeks. Their work reinterprets Chihuahua's public spaces while investigating the social and spatial impacts of urban interventions, documented by photographer Santiago Ruiz Sandoval.
3Materializing Architectural Experiments
The workshop focuses on translating theoretical design concepts into physical applications. Students blended traditional and contemporary construction techniques in projects photographed by Santiago Ruiz Sandoval's team. Completed in 2026, the Paso Nara project represents Mexico's innovative architectural approaches in the temporary installations category, covering all stages from conceptual design to physical implementation.
4Creative Interventions in Urban Context
Integrated into Chihuahua's urban fabric, the projects aim to redefine public space usage. The workshop provides architecture students opportunities to develop creative solutions for urban challenges while creating social interaction spaces with community participation. Running for over a decade, this pioneering program elevates architectural education standards in Mexico through its hands-on, professional approach.
5Material and Technology Integration
The Paso Nara project employed both traditional materials and contemporary construction technologies. Participants tested sustainable and innovative material options while building experimental structures in the 18-square-meter area. This process demonstrates a holistic approach covering all stages from conceptual design to physical implementation, blending regional architectural identity with innovative solutions.
6Workshop Model in Architectural Education
Taller del Desierto offers a model that combines theory and practice in architectural education. Over four intensive weeks, students collaborate with professional architects to gain industry experience. The 2026 edition involved over 25 participants, aiming to elevate Mexico's architectural education standards while investigating architecture's social and spatial impacts through documented projects.
7Cultural Heritage Meets Contemporary Design
The Paso Nara project synthesizes Chihuahua's cultural heritage with contemporary design approaches. Workshop activities aim to produce innovative solutions while preserving regional architectural identity, offering academic perspectives on Mexico's urban transformation processes through projects documented by photographer Alexis Pereda Chánez.
8Future of Architectural Practice
Taller del Desierto bridges the gap between architectural education and professional practice. The 2026 Paso Nara project illuminates architecture's future by investigating design's social and spatial impacts. Such workshops create critical platforms for developing new approaches in architectural education while maintaining professional standards through collaborative, experimental projects.
Original article: ArchDaily Global — Paso Nara: Chihuahua'da Mimari ve Tasarım Atölyesi