A Trip Inside Parque Quetzalcóatl
View of the greenhouse inside Parque Quetzalcóatl.
Looking at the world through rose colored glasses
About an hour outside of Mexico City, hidden in a quiet residential area, you will find Parque Quetzalcóatl. This stunning park is the brain child of Mexican architect Javier Senosiain, a pioneer of organic architecture famed for projects such as Casa Orgánica. Inspired by its namesake, the feathered serpent deity in Aztec culture, Parque Quetzalcóatl holds a series of interlocking gardens joined by complex pathways, winding bridges, natural amphitheatres carved into the hillside and ornamental grottos shaped to emulate the Mesoamerican entity.
On a private 2-hour tour, we were guided by architect Adriana from Arquitectura Orgánica, a firm that has worked closely with Senosiain on this project since its inception in 2007. Adriana gave a thorough introduction to the park and took care to share the guiding principals behind Senosiain’s design philosophy. For Senosiain, the concept of the type of space we were meant to be surrounded by takes it shape from the womb. However, after birth most of us enter a world of ‘boxes’; from the crib that holds us as infants to the office where we spend most of our days, to the coffin: our final resting place. The box, with hard corners as its signifier, follow us from the moment we are born. Senosiain’s ambition to remedy this unnatural space lead him to organic architecture; through the elimination of sharp lines and angles in favor of rounded shapes. The architects work becomes an act of reconciliation with nature, a return to the womb, so to speak, from which modern architecture and industrial processes have largely isolated us.
The head of a snake peers out over a small river, covered in mosaic tiles that have been carefully placed one by one.
How to get in
For now, a private tour is included with the Airbnb stay at the premises or via the Four Seasons Mexico City activities add-ons. Availability to stay at the Airbnb is typically quite limited; be prepared to book months in advance or on a whim if you’re lucky.
Additionally, and this was my route, you can email the park directly to request a private tour. Parque Quetzalcóatl offers appointments for students, academics, architects, creatives, and individuals interested in learning about the project and organic architecture. Visits are conducted in groups with a maximum of 6 participants, and private visits can be arranged for larger groups. Each visit lasts 2 hours, during which you will explore the space and learn about the project with a bilingual guide.
If you are lucky enough to score access, below is a list of items to make sure to bring on your excursion.
Hat
Sunglasses
Environment-friendly sunscreen
Comfortable walking shoes
A bottle of water
The park is accessible by car granted you have scheduled access beforehand. Currently the entrance is through a residential area, so do not attempt to access the park on your own as you will not pass through the security gate.
One of the highlights of the park was the famed greenhouse with its multicolored glass ceiling; designed in colors that aid in keeping the space perfectly temperated. You can can get a sneak peak through my TikTok below, where I share more frequent insights from my travels and adventures.
@sayitwithlights An exquisite dream
♬ original sound - 𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 ˚୨୧⋆