If Charlie ever imagined what a modern chocolate factory would look like, he’d probably never have thought it would look like this. Then again, he’s probably never visited Mexico.
When Mexican architect Michel Rojkind was asked to redesign the spaces inside the Nestle chocolate factory for the daily draw of visitors it receives, the architect proposed creating a whole new structure to initiate the visitors into the Nestle experience. This new building would become a museum and would introduce visitors to the history of this sweet cocoa-bean derived candy.
After making their proposal, Rojkind and his team were quickly put to task in creating the structure, with design and construction taking place in two and a half months, putting even the fastest-track building projects in China to shame.
Situated along the main highway into Paseo Tollocan, the entire, horizontal sculptural structure has become an instant landmark for tourists arriving to tour the Nestle factory. The entirety of Rojkind’s structure is rested on concrete pillars, raising the structure entirely off the ground.
The multi-faceted structure creates equally compelling abstract spaces inside, housing a child-friendly visitor’s reception area, a museum shop, and a theater. From the outside, the museum, with its subtly zigzagging volumes, begins to look like a large abstract caterpillar, clad in red corrugated steel panels.
Those who are wondering where the factory is, worry not; the building funnels directly into the factory, where the chocolate is actually made.
Architect: Michel Rojkind
