Mexico - Las Pozas, Xilitla

The area is defined by a natural tropical garden that gradually lost its original purpose over time. It is a mesophilus mountain forest formed by framboyanes or "flamboyant" trees, mocoques or "shaving brush" trees, and palos de rosa or rosewood trees. Giant ferns are among the many other species found there that possess great natural beauty. From 1944 to 1960, this was the site where Edward James and Plutarco Gastélum Esquer, his friend and administrator, chose to assemble hundreds of birdcages and animal pens without any previous planning --in addition to minimal infrastructural works so that they could live on site. Moreover, James housed his enormous collection of orchids there, channeling water from Las Pozas stream to form basins that would allow him to enjoy the current between dams and pools. These edifications were built from scratch via a kind of spontaneous architecture intended to be both functional and aesthetic.