Project Build Length: 8 Weeks

Project Leaders: Memo Vallejo, Cara Taggart, Moira Martinez Avial, Sofia Vallejo

Project Partners: Meso Foundation

International Participants: Radhika Patel, Edie Clemo, Joyce Philip, Samantha Hernandez, Marit Bruining, Ben Firman, Olivia Saviolakis, Almendra Chunga, Donnalee Villafuerte, Andrea Perez, Síofra mc mahon, Molly Crocket, Isabelle Middleton, Cathan Ivory, Afopefoluwa Carew, Neve San Emeterio, Siya Kulkarni, Thomas Green, Alice Kelly, Miles Turnell, Natalie Youssef, Viktoriya Kukhtanych, Julia Pandolfi, Maecelle Ombao, Mufunwa Bvumbi, Josie Strachan

Engineers: TY Lin - Maya Stuhlbarg, Juan Pablo Mendez-Ruiz, Justin Den Herder

Photographs: Meso Foundation

Our Services: Community Consultation, Brief Development, Full Design, Construction, Project Management, Educational Workshop Delivery.

Tucked within the forested grounds of Colegio Mesoamericano, this project provides a secluded, nature-connected therapy and mindfulness space to support student well-being at the school.

Developed in collaboration with the Meso Foundation and delivered with the help of international participants and local craftspeople, the Mesoamericano Mindfulness Space offers a safe, nurturing setting for one-on-one counselling sessions, quiet reflection, and group mindfulness practices. The project was born from a brief to design a space that feels distinctly apart from the everyday school environment - calm, inviting, and imbued with a sense of magic.

The final design is composed of a telescopic timber-framed pavilion nestled between tall trees on a gently sloping site. Built with sustainability and longevity in mind, the structures incorporate materials sourced locally, including clay tiles, FSC-certified timber and hand made furniture.

The design was heavily influenced by the ideas and aspirations of the school community and developed with feedback from staff. As the building projects into the forest, it steps up in height and grows in width, creating a feeling of stepping into a portal, away from the school and into the forest. The timber internal finishes with clay tile roof create warm internal finishes which provide a sense of comfort. During rainy weather, the sound of raindrops on the clay tiles further emphasises the feeling of calm and serenity.

Throughout the 8-week construction process, international participants worked alongside local workers, learning from each other and sharing skills in a collaborative build that reinforced the project's community-centred ethos. Despite unexpected site conditions and the logistical challenges of building within a remote forest patch, the team delivered a space that will serve hundreds of students for years to come.

This project stands as a quiet counterpoint to the everyday - a place where nature and architecture meet to support emotional well-being, creativity, and connection.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all those that contributed to this project by way of expert consultation, donation, supply of materials or just a helping hand! A special mention to Ingrid, Raquel and Adriana for always driving the project forwards and going the extra mile to ensure that the whole team had an incredible experience!

www.mesofoundation.org/