Mixtec Stonecutting Artistry Wins Best Publication in Pan-American Biennale

December 1, 2016
The award recognizes Professor Ibarra's profound research on significant buildings of the sixteenth century in the Americas, and his impact on future conservation of cultural heritage sites. 
The open chapel at Teposcolula, built in the second half of the sixteenth century, is the outcome of a unique combination between monumentality and experimentation.

On November 16, 2016, Assistant Professor Benjamin Ibarra Sevilla's book, Mixtec Stonecutting Artistry, was awarded Best Publication in the Theory, History, and Criticism of Architecture, Urbanism, and Landscape category in the 20th Pan-American Architecture Biennale in Quito, Ecuador--the most prestigious event of its kind in Latin America. The award recognizes Professor Ibarra's profound research on significant buildings of the sixteenth century in the Americas, and his impact on future conservation of cultural heritage sites. 

Separated into six categories, jurors selected a series of projects and publications that stood out for their meaningful contributions to their respective environments, and for delivering lessons relevant to the discipline of architecture and design. Jurors included architects Victor Pérez Escolano (Spain), Stefano Storchi (Italy), and Diego Hurtado (Ecuador).

This is the publication's third international biennale award; it was previously honored in the Mexico City Biennale, as well as the 14th National and International Biennale of Architecture in Mexico, organized by the Federación de Colegios de Arquietctos de la Republica Mexicana (Mexico AIA).