El Horno: Authenticity vs. Modernity
Location
FA-152
Department
Art
Abstract
Panaderias are important part of Mexican cuisine and tradition. Panaderias serve baked goods like bread, pastries, and cakes. Many of these bakeries are family owned businesses that provide employment and income for local residents. The design for these bakeries focus on their display of baked goods and open counter spaces rather than brand or logo. They are also known for their affordable prices making them accessible to people of all income levels, especially important in low income areas. A lot of these bakeries also try to preserve the authenticity of their home country by bringing traditional form of baking here in the United States. However, even as these bakeries keep their authenticity in their product, their design and branding is not the focus. So sometimes their locations are not the ideal look to many who are not familiar to panaderias, especially when gentrification occurs to their neighborhood and newer residents want something more modern. Design is essential to the gentrification process. As investors and wealthier inhabitants settle in an area, they frequently bring with them a desire for a specific aesthetic and style, which can cause the neighborhood's character to become homogenized and the current community to be displaced. High-end luxury building construction, historic building restoration, and the growth of hip cafes and shops are all examples of this. My project is about the responsible of designers including modern design while keeping elements of a panaderia that resonates with both new and local residents.
Faculty Sponsor
Lauren Meranda, Northeastern Illinois University
El Horno: Authenticity vs. Modernity
FA-152
Panaderias are important part of Mexican cuisine and tradition. Panaderias serve baked goods like bread, pastries, and cakes. Many of these bakeries are family owned businesses that provide employment and income for local residents. The design for these bakeries focus on their display of baked goods and open counter spaces rather than brand or logo. They are also known for their affordable prices making them accessible to people of all income levels, especially important in low income areas. A lot of these bakeries also try to preserve the authenticity of their home country by bringing traditional form of baking here in the United States. However, even as these bakeries keep their authenticity in their product, their design and branding is not the focus. So sometimes their locations are not the ideal look to many who are not familiar to panaderias, especially when gentrification occurs to their neighborhood and newer residents want something more modern. Design is essential to the gentrification process. As investors and wealthier inhabitants settle in an area, they frequently bring with them a desire for a specific aesthetic and style, which can cause the neighborhood's character to become homogenized and the current community to be displaced. High-end luxury building construction, historic building restoration, and the growth of hip cafes and shops are all examples of this. My project is about the responsible of designers including modern design while keeping elements of a panaderia that resonates with both new and local residents.