Manuel Díaz Tufinio

About

 
Scenario of Utopia I Native Utopias

Yucca elephantipes & Opuntia ficus-indica
Variable sizes
2020

“Native Utopias” is a series of possible futures where novel formal and material applications of native plants serve to improve or solve diverse problems pertinent to reality in Mexico today.

The project draws a future in which yucca plants (Yucca elephantipes) are used to impact children while Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) helps lessen the hardship of migrants. But the ultimate goal of is to extend such models to other plants, and provide any number of scalable solutions that work across ecosystems & user types that live & transit through Mexico.

The intent is not only to raise awareness of the various issues tackled and the groups of people they affect, but to equip each idea with actionable know- how so it can be easily implemented and contribute to a better future for everyone. Fundamentally, all concepts will have in common impactful and open design, environmental consciousness and wide accessibility at a low cost.

To read the full research click here   Utopia I: 
What would happen if Yucca plants were turned into playgrounds for kids to enjoy in Mexico’s arid regions?
The more than 30 Yucca variants growing in Mexico could be adapted by their communities to create new playgrounds to incentivize and regenerate the social fabric while fostering a local sense of identity through plants.

This concept involves crafting hand-made molds from locally sourced materials like wood and connectors, gently influencing the Yucca’s growth without disrupting its natural development. Yucca trees can slowly transform into play structures, enhancing public spaces for families and communities over generations. The process is both sustainable and community-driven, encouraging shared responsibility and creativity while fostering a strong sense of regional identity tied to native flora.

Utopia II:
What would happen if the nopales became a humanitarian tool capable of mitigating the transit of migrants who cross Mexican territory?

One of the species with which the migrant who crosses Mexican territory will have the most contact is the nopal. The properties of this plant will help prevent the origin of one of the main problems during your journey, blisters on feet.

Mexico serves as a pivotal hub for migrants, acting as a country of origin, transit, destination, and return. The rise in irregular migration has been a prominent trend, with Mexico witnessing large migrant caravans bound for the US border since 2018. These journeys often involve migrants enduring challenging conditions, including inadequate footwear that leads to blisters and infections due to long hours of walking under harsh environmental conditions.


In addressing this issue, the nopal cactus emerges as a natural solution. Mucilage, found in nopal slime, possesses water-retaining properties that can protect and moisturize skin. By crafting insoles from thin nopal sheets, migrants may alleviate discomfort and prevent blisters during their extensive journeys. This innovative use of native flora not only offers practical relief but also symbolizes a collaborative future where nature aids those seeking a better quality of life through migration.

Visualization of how the protective insoles of nopal would work. The foot could be wrapped in these, as if they were bandages,or we also suggest sewing them so that they have better support to the foot. These pieces could be replicated by cutting thin sheets with a knife.