A NEW DIRECTION
ROOT OF IDENTITY
Interview by Alison Choi
Photography by Dear Durango and Fabian Martinez
Dear Durango, an architecture and design studio based in Mexico City led by Alejandro Valencia.
Meet Alejandro Valencia, founder of Dear Durango, an architecture and design studio, seeking to create projects that stand out for their pure and functional character.
Hi Alejandro! Can you please begin by briefly introducing yourself to our readers?
Alejandro: Hi! My name is Alejandro Valencia. I am an architect and designer; founder of Dear Durango, a design studio based in Mexico City.
I am originally from Durango, a northern state of Mexico where ranch and cowboy culture are predominant, without a doubt that has influenced my style. I grew up appreciating simplicity and function of objects made with perdurable character of their materials that are often cultural and inherited in families.
I started working on architecture projects and over time I discovered the important relationship between spaces and the objects that inhabit them. Currently I work on small and medium-scale projects for private clients and collaborate with brands on commissioned pieces.
Project - Casa de campo
“ I consider the relationship between architecture and objects fundamental; design is a living process of dialogue that links users with their environments. It is about the expression of design that emanates from the understanding of physical and emotional needs at a given moment and in each context.”
- Alejandro, founder of Dear Durango
What is the story behind your profession and passion? What prompted you to start your own studio?
A: I have always been attracted to the emotional bond between people and spaces, and the experiences that are created around an object. This has led me to know how to understand projects from the outside to the inside, that is, to have global awareness of everything that happens in a space.
I started my studio out of the passion to express my ideas through projects that convey a timeless aesthetic and that last over time.
What is the vision or philosophy behind your studio? What made you gravitate towards architecture and product design as a medium for creative expression?
A: I have always sought to create projects that stand out for their pure and functional character, based on the constant exploration of new formal processes and expressions.
I consider the relationship between architecture and objects fundamental; design is a living process of dialogue that links users with their environments. It is about the expression of design that emanates from the understanding of physical and emotional needs at a given moment and in each context.
“My vision of the new Mexican identity seeks to establish a relationship between regional identity and new design expressions through the new techniques, materials and aesthetics that intervene in the creation of each object/space.”
How would you describe your process when working on a new project? Who or whatinspires you?
A: The first exercise that I do when starting a project is to understand the needs, giving priority to the functionality without leaving aside the aesthetics that you want to achieve.
I am inspired by the simplicity and functionality of all the elements and the contrast of the materials.
Our work is expressed through dedication and persistence, passion and devotion, focusing on the small details and quality, always pushing boundaries.
We are keen to learn more about your recent collaboration with Laguna Cyprien on a new line of natural aroma diffusers. What was the idea behind this project?
A: The collaboration with Laguna Cyprien was born with a different perspective on the importance of spaces, personal care, and environmental pollution in the hospitality industry.
We consider the importance of rituals and sensory experiences in spaces and how products contribute to it.
The pieces commissioned by Laguna Cyprien are inspired by the serenity of wood and expressed through simple organic forms, inciting a link between functionality and the materiality that makes it up.
Piece commissioned by Laguna Cyprien as part of the new line of natural aroma diffusers.
You have mentioned that the series of projects revealed through Dear Durango are a representation of your vision on the New Mexican Identity. How would you describe this vision and how is it explored through Norte series?
A: My vision of the new Mexican identity seeks to establish a relationship between regional identity and new design expressions through the new techniques, materials and aesthetics that intervene in the creation of each object/space.
The most interesting projects are the simplest.
Norte marks the first series of work from Dear Durango; it is inspired by the collective imaginary of Northern Mexico and its natural heritage. The project arises from the passion to manifest Mexico’s cultural identity through re-interpreting its utilitarian objects with an artisanal value. The collection promotes the use of local woods and approaches leather recycling from livestock in a responsible manner.
Furniture Design -
Norte / 2020
Interior Project:
POLLOS PONCHO
In the last few years, Mexican design has been on the rise and local designers are slowly making their mark in the international design stage. As a local creative, how would you describe the design scene in Mexico?
A: Mexico offers many possibilities for design. There are, obviously, the inspiration and references associated with history and heritage, but also the handcrafts trained for years in labours related to tradition and cultural richness that continue to be preserved in both rural and urban environments, as well as new ones. New technologies improve production times and processes.
I believe that the design scene in Mexico shares an interest in materials, method and design, mixing innovation, tradition and high quality as a fundamental part of our philosophy.
Does Mexico affect the way you approach your craft? How does the country inspire you?
A: Our country has a lot to contribute internationally. One of its virtues is the incorporation of processes and materials that come from our artisan tradition, which we must preserve and integrate. Mexican design manages very effectively to combine global trends with national elements and concepts that give it a very particular identity.
Could you please introduce 3 must-visit places within your city / country?
A: Museo Anahuacalli, Diego Rivera
The building reveals the influence of the Teotihuacan and Mayan cultures, in combination with construction elements from the 1940s. It is built with the same volcanic stone on which it stands.
Casa – Estudio, Luis Barragán
The house-study, inhabited by the architect himself, incorporates in its design principles of the vernacular architecture of the place, which include the use of bright colours. Barragán has been one of the most influential Mexican architects, and his house, one of the most visited places in Mexico City.
Uxmal, Yucatán
It is an ancient Mayan city of the Classic Period of Mesoamerican civilization. Its buildings stand out for their size and decoration. The decoration is incredible, you can see the quality of pre-Hispanic art with detailed sculptures, made with polished stones that form a perfect mosaic.
