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Collection by Aaron Britt

Mexico City: Day 2

My second day of design tourism in Mexico City was as good as the first, in no small part because I had what may have been the best meal of my life at the restaurant Pujol. Chef Enrique Olvera treated us to a dizzying array of courses all paired with a wine, beer, tequila, cocktail, or mescal. If I picked up any bug at all in Mexico it was gout. Delicious. Have a look at the slideshow to see ceramics, furniture, food, hotels, and me eating crickets. All photos were taken by the wonderfully talented Gabriela Prado.

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Fruit, fruit endless fruit for breakfast.
Fruit, fruit endless fruit for breakfast.
Reforma has a number of pretty traffic circles. This one has a sculpture of the goddess Diana.
Reforma has a number of pretty traffic circles. This one has a sculpture of the goddess Diana.
Our first stop was at Ceramica, a ceramics studio in the Coyoacan neighborhood. Ceramica has been around since 1964 and is the studio and classroom of designer Alberto Gonzalez de Cossío.
Our first stop was at Ceramica, a ceramics studio in the Coyoacan neighborhood. Ceramica has been around since 1964 and is the studio and classroom of designer Alberto Gonzalez de Cossío.
Alberto's studio is totally open to the elements. He makes use of 25 tons of clay each year designing pottery and teaching. That's him in the blue apron. He was charmingly polemical, emphasizing his opposition to industrial techniques in pottery. He loves to see the hand of the creator.
Alberto's studio is totally open to the elements. He makes use of 25 tons of clay each year designing pottery and teaching. That's him in the blue apron. He was charmingly polemical, emphasizing his opposition to industrial techniques in pottery. He loves to see the hand of the creator.
Here's a mess of pots waiting to be fired.
Here's a mess of pots waiting to be fired.
Alberto's daughter is also a designer of pottery. In the shop they show off some of her vases cut to appear as though they've got thorns.
Alberto's daughter is also a designer of pottery. In the shop they show off some of her vases cut to appear as though they've got thorns.
One of the leading lights of Mexican industrial design Horacio Duran died last year. Duran requested that Alberto make a dish with some of his ashes. A bit eerie maybe, but a loving tribute from one designer to another.
One of the leading lights of Mexican industrial design Horacio Duran died last year. Duran requested that Alberto make a dish with some of his ashes. A bit eerie maybe, but a loving tribute from one designer to another.
After our visit to Ceramica we stopped into a bustling market in Coyoacan for a small bite. The amount of amazing food on display was staggering.
After our visit to Ceramica we stopped into a bustling market in Coyoacan for a small bite. The amount of amazing food on display was staggering.
Here is a bunch of us sampling some very salty crickets. Not everyone was a fan, though I gingerly munched my handful of crunchy bugs.
Here is a bunch of us sampling some very salty crickets. Not everyone was a fan, though I gingerly munched my handful of crunchy bugs.
Con carne?
Con carne?
Next up was a quick visit to the Habita Hotel, part of the same group that contains the lovely Condesa DF that we saw the day before. Clean design, minimal and modern with a cool architectural bookstore in the lobby.
Next up was a quick visit to the Habita Hotel, part of the same group that contains the lovely Condesa DF that we saw the day before. Clean design, minimal and modern with a cool architectural bookstore in the lobby.
The split-level roof deck was splendid. And the views of the city, which I'm taking in here, are pretty stellar too.
The split-level roof deck was splendid. And the views of the city, which I'm taking in here, are pretty stellar too.
Love the packaging on the bottles of mescal the Habita freely hands out.
Love the packaging on the bottles of mescal the Habita freely hands out.
Here's the new home of the Mexican design brand Pirwi. The mansion into which they moved their showroom was spectacular and a wonderfully ornate counterpoint to the clean, green furniture they make.
Here's the new home of the Mexican design brand Pirwi. The mansion into which they moved their showroom was spectacular and a wonderfully ornate counterpoint to the clean, green furniture they make.
I loved these chairs by Luis Mercado. They're made of birch plywood and because they're so porous they stand up well to warm climates.
I loved these chairs by Luis Mercado. They're made of birch plywood and because they're so porous they stand up well to warm climates.
These shelves were designed by Ian Ortega, who told me that he likes a modular system and imagines these interacting on the wall. You can also hang a coat from the pegs on the end.
These shelves were designed by Ian Ortega, who told me that he likes a modular system and imagines these interacting on the wall. You can also hang a coat from the pegs on the end.
Here's a glimpse of the building into which Pirwi moved. We called it our prom picture with we journos and many of the Pirwi designers, including honcho and wonderful furniture designer Emiliano Godoy.
Here's a glimpse of the building into which Pirwi moved. We called it our prom picture with we journos and many of the Pirwi designers, including honcho and wonderful furniture designer Emiliano Godoy.
Our next stop was the gallery ADN in Polanco. It's a great space dedicated to 20th century Mexican design and it ranges from very classically modernist pieces to the daffier end of the furniture spectrum.
Our next stop was the gallery ADN in Polanco. It's a great space dedicated to 20th century Mexican design and it ranges from very classically modernist pieces to the daffier end of the furniture spectrum.
Here Aaron Able of Apartment Therapy chats with Paulina who owns ADN with her husband Paulo. In the background is a small white chair by Ariel Rojo and a seemingly in-motion chest by EOS Mexico Studio.
Here Aaron Able of Apartment Therapy chats with Paulina who owns ADN with her husband Paulo. In the background is a small white chair by Ariel Rojo and a seemingly in-motion chest by EOS Mexico Studio.

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