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Collaborative Construction with Pajarcilla in Mexicali, Mexico: An Academic Experience at the Faculty of Architecture and Design

In 2025, students from the School of Architecture and Design (FAD) at the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), led by Dr. Cristina Sotelo Salas and Dr. Daniel Olvera García, began construction on an addition to a house using natural building systems. The project aims to explore low-environmental-impact alternatives, strengthen students’ practical training, document construction processes using local materials, and support low-income families in improving their living conditions. The house was built using a load-bearing structure of dimensioned wood, and a mixture called pajarcilla was applied to the walls. This technique integrates plant fibers and clay to create an enclosure system with thermal properties suitable for the climate of Mexicali.

The project consists of a two-bedroom addition attached to the existing 21 m² house (including the bathroom), where the family carries out all their activities (sleeping, eating, and relaxing). These two bedrooms will provide the family with private spaces for the parents and their two daughters, creating a suitable social area.

Furthermore, this project was conceived as an academic-practical exercise that allowed for the integration of content from various subjects related to materials, construction systems, and sustainability. It also involved the family members who would benefit from the construction of the addition. Throughout the process, professors from the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FAD), such as Dr. Aníbal Luna, Architect Jesús Inzunza and Architect Jorge Muñiz, participated. Architect Muñiz, with his construction experience, helped students resolve doubts about the building process. In addition, the professors collaborated in all stages of the project, from planning and preparing the foundation, to assembling the wooden structure for the walls, and preparing and applying the clay mixture to the walls.

The straw-clay technique used involves mixing straw with a clay slurry until the fibers are coated with a thin layer of earth. This mixture is placed manually inside the wooden frames that form the walls, being lightly compacted to ensure stability without compromising its insulating capacity. Unlike solid earthen systems, straw-clay produces lighter elements with a higher air content, which improves their thermal performance. It is important to note that the clay used was obtained from the excavations for the bedroom foundations (third phase).

In this regard, it is important to mention that the clay used was obtained from the excavations for the bedroom foundations. During construction, students actively participated in preparing the mixture, filling the walls, and applying successive layers of material. This process allowed them to directly understand the physical properties of natural materials, as well as drying times, the importance of ventilation, and appropriate compaction techniques. They also discussed aspects related to the hygrothermal behavior of the system, its humidity regulation capacity, and its potential as a construction alternative for extreme climates.

 

The project has been a significant educational experience. Students had the opportunity to engage in a real construction process, understand the logic of natural building systems, and reflect on the environmental, social, and cultural implications of architecture. Family involvement in the construction fostered a sense of responsibility and ownership of the project.

The experience developed during 2025 demonstrates the potential of construction workshops as spaces for active learning within architectural education. Building with straw bale, in addition to being an accessible and low-environmental-impact technique, offers opportunities to investigate the thermal behavior of materials and promote more sustainable housing models. This academic exercise thus contributes to strengthening the relationship between research, teaching and construction practice, promoting an architecture that is more aware of local resources and the climatic conditions of the territory.


OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
CRAterre (March 11, 2026). Collaborative Construction with Pajarcilla in Mexicali, Mexico: An Academic Experience at the Faculty of Architecture and Design. The UNESCO Chair. Retrieved April 18, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/15uwn