ITESO Pavilion Uses Mirror Acrylic, Timber in 36 m² Design

Sfumato Pavilion Transforms Existing Steel Frame

The Sfumato Pavilion, a temporary installation at ITESO campus in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, transformed a previously dormant steel structure into a contemplative space. Designed by Fernando Hernandez, Humberto Espinoza, and Jessica Corona, the 36 square meter pavilion for 2026 repurposes a 6 x 6 x 6 meter red-painted PTR steel frame.

This framework, known as CUBO MEM and erected in the late twentieth century, now serves as the primary support for the new envelope. The design integrates mirror acrylic, black shade mesh, dark river stones, and timber elements to redefine the existing campus fixture without introducing a new freestanding object.

Reflective Exterior Uses Mirror Acrylic Panels

Three of the pavilion's faces are clad with mirror acrylic panels, secured by galvanized-profile frames. This panel arrangement creates a visible grid across each elevation. Unlike glass mirrors, the acrylic panels exhibit slight flexing, which subtly distorts reflections of the surrounding campus environment, including trees, pathways, and concrete buildings.

This material characteristic gives the pavilion its name, "Sfumato," by softening and blurring the reflected images rather than producing sharp reproductions. The cladding stops above a bed of dark river stones, creating a shadow joint that gives the mirrored volume a suspended appearance. A terracotta-red curb contains the stone field, connecting the installation to the campus's existing color palette.

Dark Interior Features Mesh and Timber Bench

The fourth facade of the pavilion remains partially open, marking the entrance to a compact interior chamber. Inside, the design shifts from reflection to absorption. Black shade mesh is tensioned directly onto the original steel cube, with visible lacing and cord connections highlighting the temporary assembly method.

This mesh darkens the interior while allowing the underlying structural frame to remain faintly perceptible. The surrounding campus views are largely excluded, with an open roof becoming the dominant visual element, framing the sky above. The interior floor consists of fine dark gravel, which contributes to an acoustically subdued environment.

A single heavy timber bench occupies the center, providing a focal point and contrasting with the thinness of the mesh and the optical instability of the exterior acrylic.

Temporary Material Applications for Asia's Event Spaces

The Sfumato Pavilion's use of adaptable materials like mirror acrylic, tensioned mesh, and modular timber elements for a temporary structure offers a relevant model for event and exhibition designers across Asia.

Cities such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur frequently host large-scale events, trade shows, and pop-up retail experiences that require rapid assembly and striking visual impact.

Procurement teams specifying materials for such projects might consider lightweight mirror acrylic panels for facades, which provide aesthetic appeal and ease of installation, or tensioned textile systems for dynamic interior enclosures.

For example, the upcoming Singapore Design Week in November 2026 could see increased demand for suppliers offering these adaptable material solutions, allowing for quick deployment and dismantling in urban settings.