Our third story about Mexican pilgrimage La Ruta del Peregrino features this linear stone pier by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

The pavilion, named The Sanctuary, angles up from the landscape to create a platform overlooking the Jalisco mountains.

The structure is stepped in profile to create a length of seating for resting pilgrims.

La Ruta del Peregrino is a 117km-long pilgrimage, along which each new structure provides a shelter and landmark.

Ai Weiwei is still missing after being detained by authorities at Beijing airport on 3 April.

Photography is by Iwan Baan – see more images of this project on his website.

See more stories about La Ruta del Peregrino on Dezeen »

Here is some more information about the wider project:

Ruta del Peregrino
Jalisco, Mexico

Ruta del Peregrino is a religious phenomenon centred and moved by the adoration to the virgin of talpa.

La Ruta del Peregrino (Pilgrim’s Route) stretches out on a distance of 117 kilometers.

Approximately two million people participate each year in this religious phenomenon coming from different states of México to walk through the mountain range of Jalisco, starting in the town of Ameca, ascending to el Cerro del Obispo at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, crossing the peak of Espinazo del Diablo to descend to it’s final destination in the town of Talpa de Allende to meet with the Virgin of Talpa as an act of devotion, faith and gratitude.

This religious voyage has taken place since the 17th century, for the pilgrims the act of faith is carried to penitence, the conditions of the route are harsh. This sacrifice carried with austerity is an essential part of the promise or offering that become the ritual of purification.

This project aims to provide the historical route with better conditions for the pilgrims as well as to maximize the social and economical profit for this area by taking advantage of this massive event. Based on a systematic vision the project becomes a sustainable site with different layers of meaning.

Click above for larger image

As we focus on the whole, the master plan consists of an ecological corridor with infrastructure and iconic architectural pieces that add to the religious ritual and also aim to appeal to a broader audience and allow the Route to have a flow of visitor beyond the religious.

Credits and Data

Project title: Sanctuary
Location: Estanzuela
State: Built
Architects: Fake Design
Team: Ai Weiwei, Andy Lee, André Murer

Title of whole project: Route of Pilgrim
Client: Secretaría de Turismo de Jalisco
Program: Masterplan of Route of Pilgrim
Location: From Ameca to Talpa de Allende, Jalisco, Mexico

Curatorial team: Tatiana Bilbao and Derek Dellekamp
Masterplan and project coordination: Rozana Montiel and Derek Dellekamp
Investigation team: Adiranne Montemayor, Carlos Zimbron
Invited architects and designers: Ai Weiwei / Fake Design (China), Luis Aldrete
(Mexico), Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico), Christ & Gantenbein AG Architekten (Switzerland), Dellekamp Arquitectos (Mexico), Elemental (Chile), Godoylab (Mexico), HHF architects (Switzerland), Periférica (Mexico), Taller TOA (Mexico)

Basic services- various- Godoylab
Environmental strategy- TOA|Taller de Operaciones Ambientales