OMA’s Mushroom Pavilion Marries Architecture and Cultivation
Architect Shohei Shigematsu unveils a sculptural, ellipsoidal pavilion dedicated to the art of mushroom cultivation and community exchange.
Summary
- OMA’s first Mexican project, the Mushroom Pavilion at Casa Wabi, facilitates fungi cultivation and community gathering
- Designed by Shohei Shigematsu, the ellipsoidal concrete structure features stepped interior shelving for artisanal pots and an oculus for natural light
The Mushroom Pavilion, designed by OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu, has officially opened at Fundación Casa Wabi in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Conceived as both a functional space for mushroom cultivation and a communal hub, the pavilion sits within Casa Wabi’s expansive coastal landscape founded by artist Bosco Sodi. It also represents OMA’s first built work in Mexico and is situated within a 65-acre natural landscape between the Oaxacan coast and the mountains.
The pavillion is characterized for its ellipsoidal form was designed to optimize interior organization. It houses three chambers – fruiting, incubation and storage – arranged around a central gathering space. This layout underscores the pavilion’s dual role as an incubator of food and community exchange.
Architecturally, the pavilion’s stepped lower half functions like an amphitheater, creating shelves for handmade terra cotta mushroom pots crafted by local artisans. This design not only supports cultivation but also offers a panopticon‑style viewing experience, making the growing process visible in its entirety. A central oculus opens the interior to the sky, filling the cave‑like space with natural light, while perimeter openings provide ventilation. A raised platform at the top of the steps frames views of the surrounding brush and ocean, reinforcing the pavilion’s connection to its natural context.
Materially, the structure is composed of troweled, poured‑in‑place concrete stamped with burlap to retain the site’s iron‑rich water, ensuring the pavilion will rust and evolve in appearance over time. Its curved base minimizes ground contact, preserving native vegetation such as guayacan. As Shohei Shigematsu noted, the project was conceived to balance a very specific function – mushroom cultivation – with a broader cultural mission of fostering community and artistic exchange.
