Extroverted Vecindades: A collective system for an open self-sufficient society in Mexico City
Ilse Gabriela MartĂnez GonzĂĄlez Winter Semester 17-18
Master Thesis To obtain a Master of Science (MSc) in Architecture University of Liechtenstein
Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Dipl. Arch. ETH/SIA Dietrich Schwarz Assistant: Rodrigo Alba Krasovsky
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Abstract
This Master Thesis offers a personal and scientific reflection towards how society works today and how it is leading us to an unsustainable future. Management of resources, like food production, is addressed as a problematic theme in this generation, as well as the lack of social collaboration. Embracing the topic of a collaborative society and a sense of community the books shows a translation of a possible architectural solution for today and future society’s needs. 3
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Structure of the paper This book is structured in 4 sections: Section 1 explains the design studio’s approach, the book’s research question and aim, and the methodology that is carried through the book. Section 2 introduces the reader to get to know the sense of community through different examples in a global context to understand the primary matter needed for communities to sustain themselves. Afterwards, I dig deeper into the Mexican collaborative systems like Aztec’s calpullis, and the most common housing typology in Mexico, the vecindades. The main goal is to analyse how these social structures run in order to sustain themselves and how the main parameters of these examples models are being reflected to sense and experience the architect’s possible solutions towards a better collaborative self-sufficient community. Section 3 describes the existing context by analysis of different scales. First, by Mexico as a country, then Mexico City, later on with the Historic Centre of Mexico City, and after with the project’s neighbourhood called “San Fernando block”. Section 4 focuses on the architectural design proposal by showing how the project design evolves with a personal approach using series of tools for architecture that hosts a collective system and enhances a sense of community in Mexico City within its multi-scaling and multi-tasking process. Approaching different perspectives and proposals for the urban frame is done through analysis and exploration. Different scales of the project are done to appreciate my motivations and my perception of a self-sustaining community.
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Index
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Abstract Structure of the paper
3 5
1 | Introduction
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1 | 02 Mexico City: Habitat for an open society Design studio topic Design studio theory, Dietrich Schwarz Space and mobility Wise use of resources and energy Well-being and health Demography and integration Preserving value and portability
13 13 14 14 14 14 15 15
1 | 03 State of Research
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2 | Collective Systems and Sense of Community 19 2 | 01 Definition of key terms Collective Community Extrovert Sense n. System Transparent
20 20 20 21 21 22 23
2 | 02 Worldwide case studies New Lanark cotton mill, Robert Owen Kibbutz, Richard Kauffmann Phalanxes, Charles Fourier Le Familistère de Guise, Jean-Baptiste Kalkbreite, Müller Sigrist Neugrüen quartier, Schwarz Architekten
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Neustart Schweiz, Hans E. Widmer 2 | 03 Mexico’s case studies The Calpullis, Mexico The Corrales, Spain The Spanish mansions, Mexico The Vecindades, Mexico
3 | Existing context
32 35 36 40 41 42
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3 | 01 Mexico City General Facts History Population Infrastructure Natural resources Food Food history Food production Economy
49 49 51 51 52 53 55 55 59 67
3 | 02 Historic Centre of Mexico City General Facts Urban Planning Architecture
69 69 71 71
3 | 03 San Fernando Block San Fernando block’s existing buildings Important buildings San Fernando Block Historical Heritage buildings Dancing hall, Salon Hidalgo Other buildings Important buildings next to the block San Fernando’s Temple San Fernando’s Park and Plaza
75 77 79 79 83 83 85 85 85
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San Fernando Cemetery San Hipolito Monastery Hidalgo Metro Station
85 87 87
4 | Project design of an Extroverted Vecindad 89 4 | 01 Utopic Vision
91
4 | 02 Urban Design Historic centre of Mexico City
93
4 | 03 Neighbourhood’s Design San Fernando Block Analysis of existing buildings Design programme 8
97 99 100
4 | 03 Materiality 119 Vecindades buildings’ materiality design 121 Concept 121 Building’s life cycle analysis 124 Durability 124 Material optimization 124 Environmental impact 125 Adaptability 125 Flexibility and affordability 125 Building’s thermal simulation 127 Summer situation 127 Winter situation 127 Aquaponics building materiality design 129 Concept 129 How it works 133 Numbers 134 Food production output 135 Implementation in the Historic Centre 135
Aquaponics-Cooperative organization
135
5 | Conclusion
136
6 | Documentation of midterm and final critique
143
7 | Lists of references
151
8 | List of Figures
157
9 | Affidavit
163
Answering the research question Illustrations Aspects to consider Final conclusion
136 137 137 137
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1
Introduction
Society is depending on fragile systems that are making huge impacts on our environment. The rate of transformation that we are facing now is guiding us to a non-sustainable course, which means by definition that it can no longer be sustained. Today, society has a decision-making conflict, because we lack the wisdom of choosing primordial interests. Society is more likely to choose first the short-term interests; although it will affect the system in the long term. 10
We as individuals, refuse to learn about the resources that this planet possesses; like water, soil, and species. This disorientation of knowledge provokes severe imbalances between the availability of resources and our consumption. Working parallel to our environment is in our control. In the near future, many problems regarding this lack of management of resources will arise. We have two options, either accepting them and react when the time comes or by changing our today’s systems by making them more resilient and vulnerable. Impacts on our habitat can be perceived most of the time. It is our task as part of this planet to have a shared commitment to survive.
How can architecture host a collective system and enhance a sense of community in Mexico city’s historic centre? The following research question defines the whole intention of this Master thesis project. The aim of this book is to fully explore and identify possible architectural solutions where we could use and yield from existing collective systems to overcome upcoming situations enhancing the sense of community in a specific place; which is, in this case, Mexico City. Different theoretical and spatial methods guided the architectonical project of this book. These methods aim was to explore possible solutions taken from relevant literature analysis. Additionally, tasks that were given by the studio also lead the design process. All of these assignments allowed working flexibility that pursues a specific answer to the previously mentioned research question and other questions that came through the project’s process. Such as ¿How can I reinterpret the urban typology of the vecindades into a new open self-sufficient community?, ¿How can architecture promote social interaction based on housing and a productive collective system?, ¿How can the construction encourage a sense of community giving flexibility and identity to San Fernando Block? One should notice that, nowadays, it is necessary to motivate by exploration, analysis, and validation how the sense of collective systems lead to resilient future adaptation by enhancing transparent paradigms. We need to start thinking of different ways to overcome today’s situation. What we are doing today is not enough. For the sake of our planet, we need to change our lifestyle habits to achieve a sufficient and resilient style of living.
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1 | 02 Mexico City: Habitat for an open society
Design studio topic Looking for the basis of an open society the design studio starts treating possible utopic scenarios of how Mexico city’ historic centre will be 50 years from now on, by stimulating various perspectives within the capital itself. Working according to future needs and engaging the social sustainability of the place, raises the question of how to up-cycle the area, by adapting the existing, preserving the identity and re-densify the area. To avoid social displacements caused by gentrification the studio seeks for answers on different models of inclusive, transparent communities. Visiting also, in the design seminar trip, various fragments of built utopic examples in Zurich, that started as revolutionary transformations that pursued better lifestyle paradigms; leaning to more transparent communities. Collective communities emerge from transparent social structures. Rethinking today’s global systems and models that we rely on, to live and supply oneself is one of the central studio’s approaches. Using collective knowledge rather than one’s limited knowledge is a powerful tool to pursue a higher level of cooperation within global networks. Taking into consideration aspects like the unprecedented population growth, food supply, transport, infrastructure demand, resources needed for our next generations, and rethinking the aggressive transformations that humans are doing in our environment, are part of sensing sustainable aspects and understanding the tasks of the studio.
Fig. 1
Madero Street, Mexico City (I. M., 2012)
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Design studio theory, Dietrich Schwarz Formulating five relevant and measurable themes of sustainability, Schwarz discusses the principal needs of society. These points are space and mobility, resource and renewable energy, well being and health, demographics and integration, value stability and portability. (Schwarz, 2015) Space and mobility
Refers to the strategy of relocating urban settlements such as dense spaces and infrastructure for networking, in order to preserve agricultural land and to balance the CO2 of our habitat. Wise use of resources and renewable energy 14
Will avoid a deficit of raw materials and energy. Also, it will guarantee optimal use and security of available resources for further transformations and future energy needs. Well-being and health
Our society has a deficit of a healthy balanced diet that is leading us to a civilization illness which needs to be treated with medical care. When buildings are done accordingly to the society’s needs architecture plays an essential role in our social environment’s integration and comfort, by providing comfortable interior temperature, ventilation, and daylight.
Demography and integration
Globalisation not only generates enormous flows of goods, but it also mobilizes large crowds. In the last generations, individualism has been promoted, and it has also weakened our society’s social structures. Therefore we need to enhance a sense of community and social collaboration to improve our life quality. Preserving value and portability
The existing building fabric gives an added value to the place itself, not only because of its building’s durability which sustains a financial value for the next generations but also, by conserving a strong cultural identity of the place. 15
1 | 03 State of Research
The influence that architecture has in the sense of community offers exciting research perspectives for the improvement, planning, and creation of models of dwellings. Usually, these actions create complex systems that are shaped differently according to the society, its environment, its economy, its politics and other external influences. Numerous activities acknowledge the benefits of taking into account the sense of community and collaborative lifestyle. 16
Seymour Sarason declared in 1974 the definition of sense of community as ‘‘the sense that one was part of a readily available mutually supportive network of relationship’’ (Sarason, 1974). Nevertheless, the topic has been studied, analyzed and applied from very different angles around the globe. There are other studies and works like: the architect Leon Krier with a urban approach in his book “The Architecture of Community” (Krier & Leuon, 2009), or by utopian socialist theories like Charles Fourier (Fourier, 1971) being applied after with the phalanx’ of Familistère de Guise done by Robert Owen and Jean-Baptiste Godin (Godin & Owen, 1817) or with the kibbutz communal settlements in Israel (Bar Or, 2010), or Neustartschweiz’s theoretical model of neighbourhoods (Widmer, 2014), or Dietrich Schwarz’s relevant sustainability themes higlighting the main needs of a society (Schwarz, 2015), or the psychologists David W. McMillan and David M. Chavis approach of exploring the soul and spirit of a community (McMillan & Chavis, 1986), or with real-life examples, like the story of a socialist move-
ment that happen in Marianela, Spain (Hancox, 2013). However, more specified studies of that matter, like the study of the vecindades of Mexico City (Rebolledo, 1998), and ancient knowledge from the Aztecs with the Calpullis analysed by Alonso de Zurita (de Zurita & Keen, 1994), both, focus particularly in Mexico’s sense of community and collaborative systems; by explaining its dwelling and cultural patterns. Such research compilation can serve as a base to understand the sense of community in architecture as a full perception or approach. Even thou a lot of research has been made, it is necessary to clarify that nowadays Mexico lacks the knowledge of these community models. In order to generate a better sense of community there is a need to upcycle the existing culture in Mexico City and also apply basic principles self-sufficient communities worldwide. Orientation concerning the sense of community is present all over the globe. There have been several studies of community models around the world which need to be applied in Mexico City. Vecindades are a starting point, but this dwelling typology apart from working well in the social sense it needs to open more to the public and extrovert itself to work together with other communities and sustain itself. It needs to become a symbiosis between the people and the place. Taking into consideration different factors like food production systems and efficient energy use will be fundamental to meet sustainable future needs.
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2
Collective Systems and Sense of Community
The overall theme of this year’s architectural studios of the University of Liechtenstein is dealing with the topic of “Transparency”. Investigating new forms of living in a transparent society in Mexico City is one of the focuses of the design studio. Searching for transparency can vary from different expressions, I’ve shortened these in two types: the tangible and the intangible reflection. This book is focused mainly on the sense of community; the intangible perception, but on the other hand expresses different architectural qualities in a tangible way. Sarason gave a definition to the “sense of community” as: the perception of similarity to others, an acknowledged interdependence with others, a willingness to maintain this interdependence by giving to or doing for others what one expects from them, and the feeling that one is part of a larger dependable and stable structure (Sarason, 1974, p. 157). Afterwards, in 1986, David W. McMillan and David M Chavis changed this definition to “a feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and the group, and a shared faith that members’ needs will be met through their commitment to be together” (McMillan & Chavis, 1986).
Fig. 2
Building a sense of community (Klaebe, 2008)
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2 | 01 Definition of key terms
Collective
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The term comes from the Latin (15c.) collectivus, from collectus, past participle of colligere “gather together”, “done by people acting as a group”, “relating to or shared by all the members of a group’’, “taken as a whole; aggregate, “a cooperative enterprise”. (OxfordDictionaries, 2017). com- : together -leg /- legere : to gather or to collect Community The term comes from the Latin (9c.) communis, which means common, public, general, shared by all or many, “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common”, “a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together in natural conditions or occupying a specified habitat”, “a group of people living together and practicing common ownership”, “a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants”, “the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common”, “a similarity or identity” (OxfordDictionaries, 2017a). com- : together moi-n- : shared by all -munia- : duties, public duties, or functions -tatus : diminutive, small, intimate or local
Extrovert The term “extrovert” comes from the Latin (early 20c.) extravert, which means to turn outward so as to be visible, “an outgoing, socially confident person”, “a person predominantly concerned with external things or objective considerations”. (OxfordDictionaries, 2017) extra- : outside, beyond the scope of, expected -vertere : to turn -wer : to raise, lift, hold suspended, to turn, bend
Sense n. The term “sense” comes form the Latin (12c.) sentire, which means sensation, perception, feeling, undertaking, meaning, capacity for perception and appreciation, “a faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch”, it also means “ A keen intuitive awareness of or sensitivity to the presence or importance of something”. The verb sense means to perceive by a sense or senses or to detect. To bring someone to their (or come to one’s) senses, to restore someone to (or regain) consciousnes, to Cause someone to (or start to) think and behave reasonably after a period of folly or irrationality.(OxfordDictionaries, 2017b)
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System
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The term system comes from the late Latin systema that means an arrangement, system.“a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole”, in Physiology “ set of organs in the body with a common structure or function”, “ the human or animal body as a whole”, in Computing to “a group of related hardware units or programs or both, especially when dedicated to a single application”, in Geology “a major range of strata that corresponds to a period in time, subdivided into series”, in Astronomy “a group of celestial objects connected by their mutual attractive forces, especially moving in orbits about a centre”, or “a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method”, “mass noun Organized planning or behaviour; orderliness”, “the prevailing political or social order, especially when regarded as oppressive and intransigent”. (OxfordDictionaries, 2017) syn- : together - histanai : cause to stand, together with, jointly; alike; at the same time - sta- : to stand, make or be firm
Transparent The term transparent comes from the Latin (15c.) transparentem, which means shining through, across, beyond; through. It can also be described as “easy to perceive or detect”, and as “having thoughts or feelings that are easily perceived; open”. The verb appear means to come into sight; become visible or noticeable, especially without apparent cause. Come into existence or use. Be published. Feature or be shown. Seem; give the impression of being.(OxfordDictionaries, 2017) trans- : across, through, on the other side of, to go beyond -parere : come in sight, appear, come into view, 23
2 | 02 Worldwide case studies
To learn from open societies it’s important to comprehend global case studies and understand actions taken by different characters in history. Analysing projects from different angles can provide a better perception towards sustainability. Different examples around the world can help ourselves to experience and sense these theories in architectural designs. Also, these case studies’ analysis can provide multiple spatial qualities and features that can be used as tools for further design strategies. Embracing social-collaborative systems around the world can bring possible solutions and new ideas to update our society’s environment. However, we must take into consideration our existing context and create a dialogue between the global solutions and shape it according to our geographical background. As Mumford mentioned: “To make the best use of local resources, we must often seek help from people or ideas or technical methods that originate elsewhere” (Mumford, 2007, p. 100)
Fig. 3
Liechtenstein’s Gartenkooperative community harvesting vegetables (Ideenkanal, 2010)
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New Lanark cotton mill, Robert Owen Unpleasant factory conditions were normal during the 18th century due to the Industrial Revolution. Robert Owen, an entrepreneur who recognized the cruel conditions that workers faced during that time, attempted to improve their working conditions by developing cooperatives (Owen, n.d.). He followed an idea that if a man’s social environment were improved, the man would also be improved, and if work is conducted comfortably it will be efficient. Creating his first ideal model in his textile mill in New Lanark, Scotland, Owen aim was to improve 2,000 underprivileged workers. Restringing children labour and educating them instead, enriching the worker’s dwelling with necessary provisions lead the mill and giving better salaries and less working hours helped New Lanark cotton fabric become an investment with success. 26
Fig. 4
Lithographic print of New Lanark advertisement from the early 19th Century (Owen, n.d.)
Kibbutz, Richard Kauffmann It started in Israel in 1909, as a voluntary social experiment that promoted a collective lifestyle based on an entirely equal shared living lifestyle which included all social and economic aspects in a new settlement suburban typology. This new structure was a spatial reaction of a pertinent dialogue between the architecture and the community’s needs. Its agora urban landscape formed by shared dwellings, paths and agricultural land encourages its social interaction significantly. This visionary utopian ideology offers new alternatives and different perspectives and inspiration of how a self-sufficient community can succeed (Bar Or & Yasky, 2010).
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Fig. 5
Kibbutz Ein Harod, 1934. Richard Kauffmann (Bar Or & Yasky, 2010)
Phalanxes, Charles Fourier Later on, with one of the early socialist’s movements in the 19th century, the French philosopher Charles Fourier, aimed to improve workers’ social life quality and productivity by calling the attention of the equality of rights in a society. “Equality of rights is another chimera, praiseworthy when considered in the abstract and ridiculous from the standpoint of the means employed to introduce it in civilisation. The first right of men is the right to work and the right to a minimum [income]. This is precisely what has gone unrecognised in all the constitutions. Their primary concern is with favoured individuals who are not in need of work.” (Fourier, n.d.) 28
Fourier portrayed “phalanxes” as self-contained utopian communities that had ideally 500 to 2,000 inhabitants working together for mutual benefit. His ideal vision was based on the sense of community as the notion of collective living and the rational performance of domestic duties. Jobs or tasks were assigned according to personal interests and motivations of the people and salaries were given according to the quality of their work. Unfortunately, architecture was not built as a model, but his ideas influenced further works (Fourier, 1971).
Fig. 6
Charles Fourier “phalanx community model”(Fourier & Considerant, n.d.)
Le Familistère de Guise, Jean-Baptiste Godin Eventually, the architect Jean-Baptiste André Godin accomplished Charles Fourier’s’ social aim with le Familistère de Guise (Godin & Owen, 1817). This project made a tremendous jump where the elaborated theories of the capitalist economic system were applied as a new society. This project was and is a factory that improved its productivity and the life quality of its workers by bringing together the workers and their families close to the services of the Factory. Familistère offered attractive and comfortable dwellings and many other facilities like commerce, common laundries, recreational areas, education, and free open spaces with plentiful water and nature. This symbiosis of the workers’ life and their factory, later on with proper management and administration became as one; eventually, the workers became owners of the company. 29
Fig. 7
Familistère de Guise interior atrium space (Millier, n.d.)
Kalkbreite, MĂźller Sigrist This complex achieves social diversity between different socioeconomic groups from Zurich, Switzerland, due to its mixeduse program and variety of typologies or units which are connected through a common corridor and different common spaces, apart from a central courtyard which leads more interaction within the cooperative neighbourhood. The cooperative lifestyle in this project starts from the common spaces which are being shared by the users like kitchens, dining rooms, library, playrooms, services and other facilities.
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Fig. 8
Analogue picture of Kalkbreite cooperative (Author, 2017)
NeugrĂźen quartier, Schwarz Architekten Being the largest sustainable housing developments, the complex manifests the character of a naturally grown village. NeugrĂźen quartier, located in Mellingen, Switzerland yields from its sustainable timber construction by generating a strong shared identity, and by gasping a social appropriation of the space. The complex benefits from its orientation by allowing an optimised solar distribution, energy generation and recovery as well as taking advantage of social aspects like its ground floor, which is opened to the public and oriented to serve diverse local needs. It also includes a diversity of dwellings (row houses and multi-story buildings), that promotes the accessibility and affordability for different users. 31
Fig. 9
Communal recreational area, NeugrĂźen quartier (Author., 2017)
Neustart Schweiz, Hans E. Widmer The idea of Neustart Schweiz (Widmer, 2014) stands from the ecological limits of this planet. It arises from the community systems that we have nowadays and how these should be improved. It states that established groups in a shared space are essential to creating a strong common identity and also required to optimize consumption of energy and needed resources. Creating micro-centres that serve the community with a wide range of functions like work, leisure, services and others, allow the users to interact more and generate an atmosphere of mutual aid and shared knowledge. The theory concludes with a macro structure of territories as a way that could help the planet population to overcome stressful situations. 32
Fig. 10
Neustart Schweiz micro-centers distribution (Widmer, 2014)
Neustart Schweiz mentios that every micro-center’s ground floor, with about 1200m2, must have in its programme the following spaces: Space Food depot Bakery Processing Restaurant/bar/lounge Library Internal goods depot Wardrobe/textile Laundry Repair shop, tools Bath Quiet room Kids play room Administration Total
m2 300 30 30 300 (+ terrace) 30 50 30 50 30 300 (+back yard) 30 60 (+courtyard) 30 1,270 m2
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2 | 03 Mexico’s case studies
Social architecture in Mexico originated from the demand of better living conditions for workers. Starting with the lower and middle class, in 1917, the Mexican Constitution established the obligation of employers to grant their workers housing and hygienic housing. After that, few buildings like Isabel building (1920), and Ermita building (1935) by Juan Segura, were built to fulfil those needs. By 1970’s Mexico’s population had practically doubled compared to 1950. Overcrowding the metropolitan áreas from 35% in 1940 to 58.7% in 1970. In absolute numbers, this grew approximately into three million new homes. By the 20th century, only a few architects designed housing projects meeting marginalised population needs. Some examples are: The Urban Center President Miguel Alemán by Mario Pani in 1949 (this multifamily housing complex marked the beginning of a series of developments), Nonoalco Tlatelolco Housing Complex in 1958, and Presidente Juárez Multifamily housing, sought to solve the housing problem that Mexico City was facing. Nevertheless, those housing complexes lacked human scale, and didn’t encourage its society enough to reinforce collective life; therefore life quality significantly vanished. On the other hand, we see the social housing models in Mexico’s history that encouraged social interaction like the Aztec’s independent units called Calpullis and later on the Vecindades typology. Fig. 11
Barrio Tepito (González de León, n.d.)
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The Calpullis, Mexico The Aztec social structure consisted of clusters formed by calpullis, this Nahuatl word means “the big family house”, the term defines a spatially localized group of households with a local economic, administrative and political regime that had a common monetary basis The community was mainly connected by circumstances, commerce or lineage. Even though the urban system of the Aztecs consisted in a nuclear administrative center and four large housing calpulli’ quarters, the calpullis were the base of the community (Neomexicanismos, 2016).
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Fig. 12
Calpullis clusters (Smith, 2011)
The organization of the calpullis were done according to their basic needs, each sector had multiple professional and handcraft activities. These were very diverse, but at the same time they worked as a complete unit, as a cooperative. The relationship between people was extremely important in order to sustain as one. They controlled a piece of land that was for food production and shared their trade-knowledge within their fraction by group discussions and assemblies with a council of elders and a treasurer.
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Fig. 13
Calpullis sharing their knowledge (Rebolledo, n.d.)
These communities were self-sufficient units that where based on productive land and shared knowledge. They operated as collaboratives, worked together, grow food for all the inhabitants and exchange their goods between them. Their occupations were diverse, some people worked the land, others fished or hunted and others hired others to do their dutties. Painters, sculptors, weavers, and embroiderers also played a significant active role in their economy and cultural traditions. They shared all types of knowledge either in schools (telpochcalli), in assemblies or community events. A council of elders supported the leadership.
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Fig. 14
Cross section of the Aztecs house (Vault, 1998)
“The patio enjoyed a lot of privacy because it was placed far from the noise, and never having a direct access to the street. It was the most important place for daily activities; this is clear by the fact that the Aztec family dwellings did not have windows to the exterior‌. The collective characteristics of these dwellings reflected a society which did not promote or encourage individualismâ€? (Rebolledo, 1998, p. 22)
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Fig. 15
Original Calpulli house from Tenochtitlan (Rebolledo, n.d.)
The Corrales, Spain In Spain, the corrales typology was not associated with residential use, but with commercial exchange and transitory living. Nevertheless, when Spaniards came to conquer Mexico, they brought this commercial typology and merged it with the calpullis housing typology; giving the result of the vecindades. With precise accesses and shared facilities, this typology ensured a strong interior collective life. “One of the main characteristics of this urban form was the sense of community� (Rebolledo, 1998, p. 15)
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Fig. 16
Ground floor and upper floor of El Corral del Conde Sevilla (Corral del Conde, 1850)
The Spanish mansions, Mexico Besides from the calpullis’ collective dwellings, which were mainly formed by participation of its inhabitants, there was also another type of collective house, the ones that were introduced in the mansions of the rich Spanish conquerors. This typology had two floors, the ground floor had workshops, and the upper levels were mainly housing for the families and the servants. Its distribution took place because the Spaniards wanted to protect themselves from a possible indigenous attack.
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Fig. 17
Conde Santiago de Calimaya House in Mexico City (Ayala Alonso, n.d.)
The Vecindades, Mexico The Vecindad is the Spanish translation of neighbourhood, but at the same time, it is known as a housing typology. Since the 16th century, the vecindad was the mayor housing typology in Mexico’s city historical centre until the 20th century. This open-patio surrounded by rooms typology and urban layout was created from a mixture of Mexico’s native indigenous architecture and the Spanish dwellings called Corrales, which was already a typology influenced by Roman and Muslim’ architecture.
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“On a social level, the vecindades played an important role as they facilitated human relations among the tenants, promoted the exchange of ideas, self-help, self-policing and family unity” (Trabajadores, 1988, p. 152).
Fig. 18 Elements of the typology of the Vecindades: 1. Zahuan or entrance: transition space between the public and the semi-public. 2. The patio: nervous system or common space that gives circulation, light and wind to the dwellings; it was also an extension of the dwellings. 3. The dwellings: private domestic activities or workshops. 4. The accesorias or commercial activity. (Rebolledo, n.d., pp. 23, 25, 27, 30)
Vecindades were attractive typologies because these offered a commercial exchange, working spaces, and transitory living for a significant number of people. The sense of community is quite active in the vecindad, due to the social interaction that this typology involves. People meet on weekends in events held in the courtyards; people typically attend the same schools, people have this kind spirit of sharing and borrowing things like eggs or milk, they participate in religious events, they know each other and create their social group. People are just married to the life of the vecindad. “In Spanish architecture, the use of interior spaces was more common than in the Indigenous, but in both cultures, the patio was the most important space for daily activities. In both cases, the covered spaces were used for sleeping purposes and storage; the shortage of furniture and ornamentation in interior spaces in both cases reveal little use of these spaces during the day. Also, in both cases, the residents are members of the “same family”, not only by blood relationship but also with the same ethnic links. The housing models brought by the Spanish were adapted and transformed to constitute the beginnings of the Mexican house.” (Ayala, 1996, pp. 13–17)
Many of the residents of these housings usually earn their living with different occupations that are carried on within the neighbourhood; other residents go to work outside.
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Besides being a housing typology, the vecindades were known for being the inner-city rental slums in the 19th century, later on, it spread to the periphery of the city. By the 1890’s, the vecindades accommodated one-third of the total overpopulation of the Mexico City, and due to this matter, the life quality in the vecindades dwelling typology decreased. There was a vast sanitary demand; it was too many people. Afterwards, by the 1930’s, with the introduction of functionalism and modernist thinking, this dwelling typology was no longer built.
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Fig. 19
Evolution of the urban area and population density in Mexico City from 1600 to 1989 (Federal, 1986)
Architects and the society itself forgot their traditional housing patterns, and political reformations lead to miserable deterioration of the vecindades. By the 1890’s, Mexico City had large-scale industrialization, by this time functional-thinking gave another meaning to the concept of “social housing”, it transformed its definition by reducing it to “minimal housing”, which consequently gave the essence of “cheap housing”. This misleading, implied to a devaluation of the quality of space and its materials, lowering the parameters of living conditions. From those decades till today, we can see the replication of the isolated-house model being built on the periphery of the city. All of those actions led to a very negative impact on Mexican families, and the natural environment of Mexico City. 45
Fig. 20
Social conditions defined by a multivariate social indicator, municipalities in Mexico City, 1980. Map no. III.3.6. (Tamayo, Valverde, & Aguilar, 1989)
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Existing context
Due to the Spanish conquest, Mexico’s Aztec empire transformed and adapted European patterns. This prominent, but gradual, a cultural transformation led within the years a tendency of external adaptation. Nowadays, Mexico is an overpopulated mega-city, and its society is getting globalized; people are following foreign patterns and acting according to external influences. This massive disconnection is leading to a lack of local attachment, by building a huge gap not only between social classes, but distant knowledge from the native cooperative social units. There is a need of a shared commitment within the communities based on the regional knowledge in order to work as self-sustaining units. In this chapter the existing context will be explained with different scales, starting with Mexico as a country, then as the capital city with different approaches, afterwards the Historic Centre of Mexico City, and then it describes the neighbourhood where the architectural project design takes place.
Fig. 21
The Great City of Tenochtitlan, painting by Diego Rivera (Rivera, 1945)
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3 | 01 Mexico City
General Facts Population: 8,500,000 Area: 1,485 km2 Population: 18,131,000 inhabitants Climate: subtropical highland (18°C average) Elevation: 2, 240 m over sea level Mexico is a country of contrasts; there is a huge difference between social classes, between the public and the private, which has created a division between the cities’ architecture and how these have developed. There is a need to create communities that are affordable for everyone inside the cities to break this gap. We can learn from existing examples all over the world to balance a city’s affordability, its natural resources, and social equality. Mexico City is a city in continuous and rapid transformations due to the influence of different factors like its population growth and activities, its geographic diversity, climate conditions, etc. This metropolis’ architecture is a clear reflection of the articulation of these parameters. We must understand the essence of this place to improve its conditions. Fig. 22
Overcrowded dwellings in Mexico City: Waves of humanity. (Lopez Luz, 2015)
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Fig. 23
The Valley of Mexico City (Maudslay, 1916)
History Mexico City dwells on a valley where the Aztec empire was once settled, on an island in the Lake Texcoco that existed in the year 1325. A city loaded with plenty of history and filled up by hundreds of years of administrative and self-sufficient’ community knowledge from the Aztecs. Its population was approximately from 100 to 200 thousand inhabitants before it was then conquered by the Spaniards in 1521. After this invasion, the Spaniards built their capital on top of the ruins and settlements and covered the Aztec’ existence. Erasing all of what once was the largest city in the Pre-Columbian era. It became independent until 1821. Today, Mexico City is based on an urban reticular structure that was founded by the conquers. Even though the conquest happened, it remains the country’s largest and most important city; shaped by its native strong culture and traditions.
Population Within its 21,321,000 inhabitants, Mexico City has an average of 80% migrant population that come from 10 states that are mostly rural. This migratory movement from the suburbs to the city centre leads latter to increase its population rapidly. Consequently, over the decades this response to the development of different models of a dwelling. Overcrowding the urban areas from 35% in 1940 to 58.7% in 1970. In absolute numbers, this growth was translated approximately into three million new homes. Homes that were done in the periphery of the city, that later on were converted into the informal settlement; seen as slums. By 2010, according to INEGI (INEGI, 2010), the population per type of dwelling was: 75% single-family house, 17% multistory building apartment, 5% house in a vecindad, 3% other.
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Infrastructure Mexico city metropolis is a city rebuilt on top of the Great Tenochtitlan, which was on an island on the Lake of Texcoco. Today the centre is still covering the remaining ruins of the Aztec, plus it has been changing over the decades due to its growing population. The city’s topography is represented y continuous valleys merged with infrastructure.
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In September 1985, the capital suffered the largest earthquake in its history. Many buildings and homes were either collapsed or damaged. After this event, the government decided to create a “Popular Renovation Program” to build 60,000 houses of 40m2, but such dwellings lacked urban regulations, and these led to huge problems of infrastructure and services. Besides the immense impact that these homes produce in the environment, they are much likely to be poorly built and also lack basic infrastructure. Nowadays, these endless subsidized single-housing developments are approximately 3,320 million homes that reach a vacancy rate of 40% and are units which for instance have been increasing towards the urban outskirts of Mexico City. In addition to those houses fact, that is a tendency in the country, 65% of Mexico’s housing is informal; this is due to its economic situation. People do self-construction housing to have a home of their own.
Fig. 24
Lake Texcoco vs. urban sprawl. D.F. (Cerda, González, & Ocejo, 2015)
Natural resources Mexico city is located in a valley surrounded by volcanoes and forests as well. Lavas cover an area of 70 km2 ; out of 1.485 km² . Even though there is a need for a significant evolution in forest management methods, and timber is not the main construction material of the country, Mexico city is the 3rd timber producer.
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Fig. 25
Natural resources in Mexico City (Arquitectos, 2012)
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Fig. 26 Agriculture during the prehispanic era. Ilustration of the Aztecs building a chinampa and hunting on the back. They spear birds, net fish and wield an elaborate net to trap birds in flight. (Wold & Lopez, n.d.) Fig. 27
Agriculture nowadays. Field crops in Puebla, Mexico. (Pariona, 2017)
Food Food history In the past, the Aztecs filled up their water landscapes in the Lake Texcoco with traditional horticulture called Chinampas, known as a food production system based on floating islands that had an intensive production that had up to 4 harvests per year (Bermúdez et al., 2005, p. 107). Besides the chinampas system, they also used milpas, which is a system that allows the production of a variety of products together with corn, like the system of terraces, which also allowed an optimized use of the hills’ or mountain’s area typography with the use of stepped sections. The population in Tenochtitlan used to sustain themselves with a local diet based on corn, pumpkins, beans, chillies, tomatoes, cactus, amaranth, cacao, avocado and many fruits; products that allowed the beginning of sedentary life in America. Besides, they ate what they hunted, like reptiles, insects, fish, wild animals, birds or even domestic animals like rabbits or dogs (Ávila et al., 2010). When Spaniards came to America, local cultural aspects changed, including the Aztec’s food production systems and their diet as well. Spaniards brought to the city wheat, rise and different fruits and vegetables, also species and dishes that were influenced by the European cousin and Muslim culture; making those part of the main Mexican diet till today. One of the main causes of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 was the unequal farmland distribution. The land was taken away from the farmers, and consequently, the Mexican population didn’t have control of their food supply.
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Fig. 28
Peasant march in the capital to remember the birth of Emiliano Zapata (Luciano, 2015)
Emiliano Zapata, one of the chief leaders of the Mexican revolution fought for the agrarian justice and made eminent the political agreement of “Plan de Ayala” which claimed: “Earth, justice and law” (Zapata & Jesús Silva Herzog, 1969). After a time, in 1917, the Mexican laws related to land distribution changed and collective farming called ejidos started to appear. These are the confiscation of small properties of lands that were given to a group of people for common agricultural, livestock or forestry intention that indeed gave them economical profit. By 1970, even though farmlands were more-less distributed, these were given to not so many farmers.
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Fig. 29
The number and size of farms, 2007. Data: INEGI. (Burton, Geo-Mexico, & INEGI, 2007)
Small farmlands are owned by families who lack knowledge of efficient food production systems and usually have underpaid work. They are assets which are unable to access credit to invest in improved equipment or new technology. As a result of limited knowledge and insolvency, they remain trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty. According to Geo-Mexico data, from the year 1991 until 2007, there has been an increase of 55.2% in small farms which are less than 2 hectares, and overall growth of 45.4% in the total agricultural area in the capital (Geo-Mexico, 2014).
Mexico, as a country, is among the first 5 countries worldwide that produces these fruits and vegetables: Avocado Lemon Papaya Orange Raspberry Strawberry Grapefruit Fig. 30
30.2% 13.6% 6.6% 6.3% 5.8% 5.7% 5.1%
Chile 8.5% Green beans 6.6% Onions 2.3% Squash 2.3% Asparagus 2.2% Tomatoes 2.1% Broccoli and cauliflower 2.1 %
Vegetables and fruits production average in Mexico (Bustos Guajardo, 2017)
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Rainforest agriculture Irrigation agriculture
Fig. 31
Rainforest agriculture and irrigation agriculture surface in Mexico. INEGI de MĂŠxico (INEGI, 2005)
Food production Agricultural land: Mexico: 21,902,572 ha | D.F. : 22,800 ha Aquaculture: producing 15,728 tons Jobs: 13% population Crop production has and is an essential agricultural enterprise in Mexico by giving 50% of its profit. Producing, consuming and exporting wheat, beans, corn and sugar cane, coffee, several fruits and vegetables, Mexico as a country proclaims to be one of the 7th largest producers of fruit and vegetables worldwide, with a total of 32 million tons per year (Bustos Guajardo, 2017). It produces 20% more of what the country’s population consumes. Mexico City’s food contribution of 14 products that generate 0.18% of the national production: Product D.F. Country Contribution Oats 128,934 11,022,152 1.17% Bovine milk (thousands of liters) 12,322 10,586,481 0.12% corn grain 8,378 24,410,279 0.03% Alfalfa green 3,304 29,341,728 0.01% meat in pig carcass 2,015 1,160,676 0.17% Beef carcass meat 690 1,667,139 0.04% green tomato 476 609,472 0.08% beans 245 1,111,088 0.02% eggs 156 2,299,220 0.01% sheep carcass meat 126 51,275 0.25% honey 84 59,682 0.14% green chile 69 2,052,430 0.00% meat in the gallinaceous canal 54 2,580,777 0.00% red tomato (tomato) 36 2,263,204 0.00% Fig. 32
Economic census, INEGI 2009. (Ávila et al., 2010, p. 15)
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Fig. 33
Aquaculture in Mexico (Tierra FĂŠrtil, 2018)
Economic panorama of example mentioned in next page. The numbers are shown in thousands of Mexican pesos:
2008
2010
2012
2013
2015
2017
Aquaculture income Total income Net income
1,360 1,367 878
1,265 1,273 783
1,438 1,446 920
1,502 1,509 971
1,778 1,786 1,211
1,922 1,930 1,321
Fig. 34
Economic panorama of Tejupilco (Mexican network of Agroalimentary Policies Investigation (Red Mexicana de Investigacion en Politica Agroalimentaria), 2010)
Mexico’s aquaculture activity generates 25% of all the production of tilapia fish in Latin America with an average annual production rate of 337 thousand tons per year. (SAGARPA, 2017) Aquaculture production in Mexico city started from 1980, today the capital is the among the 14 states of aquatic-production without coast; producing 15,728 tons of fish per year (Edomex, 2014). There is aquaculture fish production centres like the Centro Acuícola de Tiacaque (producing carp fish), Centro Acuícola Calimaya (producing trout fish), Centro Acuícola La Paz (producing bass fish, carp fish, trout-fish and bullfrogs). Exploring for existing solutions, I took an example as a reference from these aquaculture fish production centres, that is using average technologies, and it gave me the next results: Location Tejupilco, D.F. Fish tanks area 1 hectare (20 ponds) Plants area 1 hectare Water capacity 10,080 cubic meters Planting density 3,000 bed grows per pond Production yield 3.4 kilograms/m3 In this example 100% of the production is destined to the local market. This data was taken from the Representative Units of Aquaculture and Fisheries Production Economic panorama 2008-2018 of D.F. (Mexican network of Agroalimentary Policies Investigation, 2010).
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Fig. 35 Areal view of the Central de Abastos de la Ciudad de Mexico. Thousands of trucks and cars surround the Central de Abasto - Mexico City’s largest wholesale market for produce and other foodstuffs. The market serves more than 300,000 people and handles over 30,000 tons of merchandise each day - representing 30% of the consumption of the Mexico City metropolitan area. (Dailyoverview, 2016)
Food distribution Country’s consumption (Edomex, 2014): 57% of national production, 43% is imported Country exports (Bustos Guajardo, 2017): 9% of production:86% exported to USA, 4% Japan, 16% others However, the capital’s food availability is based on its supply. Local production is weak due to its lack of free land that is subjected to a constant pressure of irregular changes due to the city’s overpopulation, and the lack of knowledge of efficient food production systems. Reported in the Economic census of 2009, Mexico City contributes only with 0.18% of national production (see chart on the last page). “According to the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture, it is estimated that 80% of the food that is consumed in Mexico City comes from other states of the country or it’s imported (Greener Cities, 2015)”.
The capital’s food distribution is done by complex systems that include distribution centres like public markets, fle-markets, informal markets, La Merced market, Tepito and the Central de Abasto de la Ciudad de México (CEDA). The Central de Abasto de la Ciudad de México is the largest wholesale market in the world according to a publication done by the FICEDA (Ávila et al., 2010, p. 10). It generates a total of 70,000 jobs, within 327 ha area of land. It distributes 30,000 tons of food daily within the city, being this 30% of its total consumption; representing a commercial flow of $8,000,000 dollars yearly. The distribution centre has a capacity of 120,000 tons of food.
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According to satisfaction of food needs of D.F. (Ávila et al., 2010), these four main chains distribute food in Mexico City: Food distribution chains Wal-mart Supercenter
Stores 46
%
85%
Bodega Aurrera 310 Superama 46 Sam´S 22 Comercial Mexicana 8% Comercial Mexicana 8 Mega 10 Bodega 11 Sumesa 11 Alprecio 2 Soriana 5% Soriana 26 Mercado Soriana 1 Chedraui 2% Súper Chedraui 8
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Total Fig. 36
501
Food distribution from self-service stores in Mexico city (Ávila et al., 2010)
100%
Dealing with global systems that we have nowadays, monopolies generate large amounts of money that produce at the same time, the expense of world hunger and serious environmental problems. Mexico city’s food supply is done by central food distribution centres as the Central de Abasto de la Ciudad de México that later on supplies food to other supermarkets, self-service stores, flee-markets, retail stores, corner stores, convenience stores, or to the informal stock. According to satisfaction of food needs of Mexico City (Ávila et al., 2010), shown on the chart in the last page, we can see that the capital has a total of 501 self-service large 24/hours commercial stores, from this total amount 85% is owned by Wal-mart. This means that the food supply of the whole city is mainly done by a foreign chain. In a global view, the article of Joao Pedro S. and Horacio M. called “Concepts and fundamental phenomena of our time” mention that: “It is estimated that less than 50 large transnational companies have the majority control over the production of seeds, agricultural inputs and the production and distribution of food throughout the world...now, access to the breath is governed by the capitalist laws of profit and accumulation... there is a world situation in which the planet has never before produced so many food, depending on agricultural techniques and the capacity for profit and storage, and even so, never many people were deprived of access to this human right, which hurts the survival of the species itself ” (Stedile & Martins, 2010, p. 3,4)
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Level of “market income” inequality (gross wages and salaries + self-enployment income + capital and property income) Level of disposable income’ inequality (disposable income = market income + social security cash transfer + private transfers - income tax)
Fig. 37 Inequality of incomes before and after redistribution (data taken from 2012 to 2014). From the Gini coefficient values 0 is the perfect equality, higher values reflect more inequality. The horizontal axis measures inequality of ‘market incomes’. The vertical axis measures inequality of disposable incomes. Source: OECD Income Distribution Database, 2016. (Ourworldindata, 2016)
Economy Mexico City’s facts Enterprises: 342,500 National PIB: 21% Direct foreign investments: 21% Formal jobs: 18% of the country Taxes: 53% The Mexican economy is the 11th largest in the world. However, there is a huge gap within its population’s economy. Having an outcome of 0.46 - 0.48 in the Gini index inequality of income results, compared to other countries, it takes the 2nd position of highest income inequality worldwide; after Chile (In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All, 2015). Shown in the chart on the last page. The contribution of Mexico City towards the country gives the city enough capital to acquire food and necessary services. Nevertheless, it is essential to notice that even though the capital is settled in a high economic stage that allows food distribution for the city, the manipulation of the basic daily diet price can affect the economy drastically. The uneven distribution of land and the economy overall clearly remains an issue for the country that is likely to impact social justice for decades to come. transportation clothing and shoes sports and leisure markets utilities monthly rent per month restaurants Fig. 38
Cost of Living in Mexico City (Numbeo, 2016)
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3 | 02 Historic Centre of Mexico City
General Facts Population: 8,500,000 Area: 1,485 km2 Population: 18,131,000 inhabitants Specifically, Mexico City Centre its a place with plenty of existing infrastructure and historic buildings. From a total of 9,000 buildings from both, the Aztec empire and Spanish colony era, 1,550 buildings have been declared of historical importance by the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) and by the INBA (National Institute of Bellas Artes). By 1950’s, population growth in Mexico City centre generated a decay in its historic centre in many ways. Not only affected the buildings and the urban spaces itself but the people that used to live there abandoned this area and started going to the periphery of the city instead; infrastructure couldn’t hold so many people and moving out was more affordable, gave people better infrastructure and a modern lifestyle. It was immense urban sprawl. Besides, changes made by the government in the Historic city centre’s land use regulations lead to an immediately decrease of its population.
Fig. 39
Mexico City centre, 1907 (Tipografica, 1907)
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Urban Planning The historic centre posses such importance not only because of its extraordinary cultural offer but also because is the most visited city centre in America Latina. Even though the city has traces from the Spanish colony, after the Mexican revolution, in 1910, its inhabitants began numerous transformations under a certain sensibility towards the city centre; they started to protect their patrimony. In 1980, the Historical Centre of Mexico City was declared as “Historic Monuments Zone�. Since 2011, authorities began an urban rehabilitation planning process due to the pre-hispanic city centre cultural richness. Creating perimeter A and perimeter B has facilitated private and public investors to begin this procedure. Perimeter A with 3.2 km2 covers the area that used to be the Great Tenochtitlan; this area is considered part of UNESCO World Heritage. Perimeter B has an area of 5.9 km2, and it covers the what the viceregal extension was until the Independence of Mexico. (Conaculta, n.d.)
Architecture Due to the influence and mixture of different cultures in Mexico’s history, today the Historic centre of Mexico City is impregnated with pre-hispanic, novo-hispanic (since 1521), Renaissance, baroque (1700), neoclassical (1800), romantic, eclectic and modern architecture (1930). Nevertheless, it is dominated by colonial construction, which is characterized by the volcanic stone and the patios used in the vecindades. Fig. 40
National Catalogue of Historic Monuments, Historic Centre, Mexico City (INAH & Coordinacion Nacional de Monumentos Historicos, 2011) : Protected buildings Historic buildings (INAH) Vertex Plazas and parks Perimeter A Design studio site Perimeter B
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Fig. 41
Historic Centre of Mexico City (Author, 2017)
3 | 03 San Fernando Block
The existing context in San Fernando block can be seen with different eyes, but nevertheless there is always attractors within the block that give a common identity to itself. This attractors or generators will follow the process and give a stronger and clear view of how the decision making of the proposal took place. It’s important to know that the block is part of one of the four calpulli’ quarters called Cuepopan. It was a fraction of the Great Tenochtitlan which was traced during the Aztec period. Today the existing block has: Block area Built area Population Density Total housing Inhabited Abandoned Metro Station SF Park
Fig. 42
7,913 m2 19,400 m2 172 3.2/house 93 54 39 40,000 commuters 4,231 m2
San Fernando’s block. View from San Fernando street to Av. Hidalgo (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017)
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San Fernan
do Street
Heroes Street
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Av. Hidalgo
San Fernando block’s existing buildings A,B
Historical Heritage buildings Total Footprint: 2,010m2 |Total Area: 6,030 m2
A B
C
Dancing Hall Salon Hidalgo
C
Footprint: 1,145 m2 (3 floors) | Area: 3,435 m2 Footprint: 865 m2 (3 floors) | Area: 2,595 m2
Footprint: 1,435 m2 (3 floors)| Area: 4,304 m2
D,E,F,G Hotels Foot print: 2,007 m2 | Area: 3,547 m2
D E F G
Footprint: 495m2 (5 floors)| Area: 2,478 m2 Footprint: 203 m2 | Area: 610 m2 Footprint: 218 m2 | Area: 872 m2 Footprint: 115 m2 | Area: 600 m2
H,I,J,K,L Housing Footprint: 813 m2 | Area: 3,688 m2
Fig. 43
H I J K
Footprint: 195 m2 (4 floors)| Area: 780 m2 Footprint: 253 m2 (2 floors)| Area: 510 m2 Footprint: 450 m2 (5 floors)| Area: 2,250 m2 Footprint: 188 m2 (5 floors)| Area: 940 m2
San Fernando’s block existing buildings (Author, 2017)
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Fig. 44 Fig. 45
Historical heritage buildings. On the left building A and on the right building B (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017). Building A’s neoclassical corner’s ornament (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017).
Important buildings in San Fernando Block Historical Heritage buildings Location: Av. Hidalgo #119 and #123 These two neoclassical buildings are inside the perimeter A of the capital’s historic centre. Both buildings are catalogued as historical heritage buildings by the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History). Both buildings, built in the beginnings of the 1930’s, show two different space configuration. However, both have the same colonial style and reflect the historical transition and the influence of the vecindades typology. This fact can be seen in their floor plans composition which have a central patio (shown on the next page). It is important to remark that the social life interaction in both buildings is different, as the building A is more enclosed than building B. However they share similar characteristics that the space in between of these buildings offers. Both are made of massive stone, covered with plaster sometimes, and they have a wooden slab system.
Fig. 46
Analogue picture taken in 1935. View from Av. Hidalgo. In the back is the Alameda Central park (D. Edition, 1935)
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1st Floor 80
Ground floor Fig. 47
Ground floor and 1st floor, Buildings A and B (Author, 2017)
The building A, the one on the left, looking from Av. Hidalgo to the block, has a typical European distribution due to its central corridor. This hallway is used as transit only because it is almost without natural light. This arrangement allows the room in both inner and outer facade to have natural sunlight. Users tend to either stay in spaces where light and view to the outside is available or walk and interact with each other in the corridor while they move to other rooms or different level by any of the offered staircases. Life is a bit more private than building B. Building B has as well a central corridor, but it is looking towards the inside, to its central patio, like a traditional vecindad. The hallways apertures are kept open without windows, for natural ventilation. The visual communication towards the courtyard and lack of privacy role that the inner hallway plays in the building tends to bring people much closer, as it is in the conventional vecindades. As users see each other faces every time they walk through the hallway from the door of their room/house to the order side of the building, they are much likely to interact more and work as a family. There is almost an ethical obligation to talk to each other, as they don’t have so much option.
Fig. 48
Elevation. Historical heritage buildings A and B (Author, 2017)
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Fig. 49 Fig. 50
Dancing hall, Salon Hidalgo (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017). Intersection’s buildings from Heroes Street (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017).
Dancing hall, Salon Hidalgo Location: Av. Hidalgo #115 Its one of the most traditional and famous live music bars in Mexico City since 1940’s. Many famous artists play salsa, cumbias and Cuban music. It is known for being a space where people from different social classes gather to dance. The building is composed of 3 floors, the ground floor of the building is mainly used for commerce purposes. The 1st and 2nd floor is used for the dancing hall activities, which are taking place during the night. The buildings’ physical conditions are poor, its metal facade stores heat inside the building, and this accumulation promotes the use of mechanical ventilators. Other buildings The existing housing units are enclosed buildings, made up by small service patios. These have inadequate light and ventilation to the rooms, as the patios are tiny; less than 2m2 each. These buildings are most likely to have one entrance that serves one purpose only, either housing or hotel; nothing else.
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Fig. 51 Fig. 52
San Fernando’s park and temple (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017). San Fernando’s cementry (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017).
Important buildings next to the block San Fernando’s Temple Location: Guerrero Street #39 This temple was built in 1735 by the Franciscans, as part of the convent complex responsible for spreading the Christian faith that Spaniards brought to the Aztecs. The building was supported by the king San Fernando III from Castilla, Spain. On June 19th of 1958, a strong earthquake hit the capital, and it caused great damages to the temple’s construction; activities were suspended until reparations were done. San Fernando’s temple is an example of baroque architecture from the New Spain. Its facade was built with local materials as tezontle volcanic stone and quarry. San Fernando’s Park and Plaza Location: Intersection of Av. Hidalgo and Guerrero Street The park as an area of 4,231 m2. It was then rebuilt in 1862. Due to its excellent access to public transport, this open space plays an essential part of the social life within a Historic city centre. San Fernando Cemetery Location: San Fernando Street #17 Being build in 1832, nowadays it is one of Mexico City’s oldest cemeteries. Today it is known as a museum that hosts many important characters of the 19th country like Benito Juárez, Porfirio Díaz, Ignacio Zaragoza, Vicente Guerrero, and others.
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Fig. 53 Fig. 54
Av. Hidalgo (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017). Av. Hidalgo, San Hipolito Convent (Gonzalez Alonso, 2017).
San Hipolito Monastery Location: Av. Hidalgo #107 This building founded in 1566, by the New Spain, used to be a shelter and psychiatric hospital for Spanish pirates during the colony, and a refugee house for the revolutionary people from the Independence of Mexico. It was then transformed into a monastery in 1739. The building was declared Colonial Monument since 1964, by the INAH and the INBA. Today it is an event hall where weddings and dinners take place. Hidalgo Metro Station This station connects line 2 and 3. Approximatively 40,000 people commute with this line every day. 87
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Project design of an Extroverted Vecindad How can architecture host a collective system and enhance a sense of community in Mexico City’s historic centre? Addressing the question above, the design proposed in this Master Thesis aims to translate local tendencies of the site, not only with the context of the Historical Centre of Mexico City but also seeks to solve local needs of Mexico as a country. The conditions that the capital city faces generate an urban complexity which is quite critical in this period. Nevertheless considering the opportunities and its cultural diversity a network based on cooperation that can further on integrate more and more its population can be established. Creating a collaborative system within the architecture of the place is an essential key to enhance a sense of community, as it will facilitate and further on establish a stable mutual exchange of empathy, experiences, local goods and knowledge; giving a result of a self-sufficient community. In this chapter, I will explain how can a self-sufficient community achieve with an urban food production system as an important part of the process. Different personal and impersonal tasks led the design flow through a multi-scaling procedure.
Fig. 55
Physical model of site. Model’s scale 1:500 (Author, 2017)
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Fig. 56
Emotional scenario of Utopia of Mexico City in 2067 (Author, 2017).
4 | 01
Utopic Vision
Nowadays we are facing a huge social disconnection; we are losing the sense of community. Disconnection to a reality that is leading us to a massive collapsed system. We are becoming individual actors on this planet and that cannot longer be ignored. We rely on individualistic systems that are destroying our world, rather than working as parasite living creatures of one single organism that works in a balanced way. “We need to become, ones again, native to this place, the Earth.� (McDonough & Braungart, 2002, p. 193).
The emotional scenario shown on the left side shows a utopic vision of how I imagine Mexico City Historic Centre 50 years from now on. I conceptualize a city with a more collaborative and self-sustaining lifestyle. Consequently, this vision brought me to the research of the Aztec empire social structure which I mentioned before; the calpullis. This self-sufficient structure based on food production and shared knowledge. This system existed from a long time ago, and it needs to come back to Mexico City’s centre and reshape and improve its structure to become a self-supporting organism.
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4 | 02 Urban Design Historic centre of Mexico City
How can architecture promote social integration based on a housing and productive collective system in Mexico City’s Historical Centre? Considering the existing case studies of collaborative communities, my first step was to find a solution to sustain a neighbourhood based on food production and a lifestyle where everyone is responsible for making a certain contribution for a further sustainable future (the project will be more detailed in the next chapters). I analysed the existing open spaces and parks of the city centre to produce the required food, and then chose the block of San Fernando; due to its proportional size to San Fernando’s park (see plan on next page). Mexico City historic centre offers a vast amount of potentials that can be used as strategies to improve the whole city. The value that a fruitful land offers, the local economy of the place, the public facilities and the experiences that are being shared in common spaces, were some aspects that I took into consideration as possible cultural and spatial aggregated values for the project’s collective community. As Mexicans, we must find again our basic needs and collaborate as a society with a common ideology, that is based on the regional knowledge. We must learn and follow practices that have been done in the past in order to work as a self-sustaining unit. Fig. 57
Physical model of site. Model’s scale 1:500 (Author, 2017)
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Fig. 58
Analysis of open spaces and parks as productive land. (Author, 2017) Calculations for Historic Center further project implementation on top.
4 | 03 Neighbourhood’s Design San Fernando Block
How can I reinterpret the urban typology of the vecindades into an open self-sufficient community? For a community to become self-sufficient, its architecture must enhance a sense of community for it to work as a symbiosis between the place’ nature and its users. Buildings play an essential role in our lives. The exploration of how buildings work can tell how its users react towards the buildings and how those shape their lifestyles. Nowadays, architecture should integrate the society and enhance a collaborative lifestyle where people depend not on themselves, but depend on each other, like nature. Places where goods are produced, share and consume can contribute to a more clever sustainable future. In the existing, I wanted to see how people interacted towards the streets and the buildings. In most buildings individualism is promoted because people enter the buildings, go to the stairs and then to their rooms. On the other hand, the block also has the historical heritage building A and B, that I would like to keep, not only because of its historical value but also because of how these work. Both work similar to a vecindad, using their central patio as a community connector and all the other characteristics mentioned in the last chapter. Fig. 59
Physical model of San Fernando’s extroverted vecindad.(Author, 2017)
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San Fernan
do Street
Heroes Street
Av. Hidalgo
How can I reinterpret the urban typology of the calpullis and the How How How can can can I reinterpret I reinterpret I reinterpret the the urban the urban urban typology typology typology ofof the of the calpullis the calpullis calpullis and and and the the the vecindades into an open self-sufficient community? vecindades vecindades vecindades into into into anan open an open open self-sufficient self-sufficient self-sufficient community? community? community?
Analysis of existing buildings
Housing
Comparing this typology with the existing buildings, I found more potentials in this building type. Being more open to the public, offering more flexibility, allowing cross-ventilation, and more natural light, I took this typology as a concept in my design. Also, I established a programme according to other self-sufficient communities and reacted towards the existing context. Analysis of building typologies:
Housing Housing Housing
Cloth shop Cloth Cloth Cloth shop shop shop
Analysis Analysis Analysis of building of building of building typologies: typologies: typologies:
Bank Bank Bank Bank
Existing buildings
Traditional vecindad
Extroverted vecindad
Existing Existing Existing buildings buildings buildings
Traditional Traditional Traditional vecindad vecindad vecindad
Extroverted Extroverted Extroverted vecindad vecindad vecindad
No interaction
Interaction within the vecindad
Interaction within the vecindad and
No interaction No interaction No interaction
Interaction Interaction Interaction within within the within vecindad the vecindad the vecindad
Interaction Interaction Interaction within within the within vecindad the vecindad the vecindad and and and outsiders
people: steet - main patio - rooms people: people: people: steet steet - main steet - main patio - main patio - rooms patio - rooms - rooms Inward looking structure
people: people: people: street street - main street - main patio -looking main patio - rooms patio -structure rooms - rooms Inward and outward
Enclosed Enclosed Enclosed structure structure structure Partly ventilation
Inward Inward looking Inward looking looking structure structure structure One side ventilation
Inward Inward and Inward and outward and outward outward looking looking looking structure structure structure Crossed ventilation
Partly Partly ventilation Partly ventilation ventilation Light from small patios
OneLight One sideOne side ventilation side ventilation ventilation from main patio
Crossed Crossed Crossed ventilation ventilation ventilation Light from main patio and exterior
Light Light from Light from small from small patios small patios patios Private buildings
Light Light from Light from main from main patio main patio patio Gated communities mainly
Light Light from Light from main from main patio main patio and patio and exterior and exterior exterior Open community
Private Private buildings Private buildings buildings One access
Gated Gated communities Gated communities communities mainly mainly mainly One access
Open Open community Open community community Multiple accesses
OneOne access One access One useaccess
One One access One access access Multiple uses
Multiple Multiple Multiple accesses accesses accesses Multiple uses
One One use One use use No security
Multiple Multiple Multiple uses uses uses Security within the community
Multiple Multiple Multiple uses uses uses Security within the community
Nocomercial security No security No security No activity
Security Security Security within within the within community the in community theassesorias community Commercial activity
Security Security Security within within the within community the community the community Commercial activity in complete ground
No comercial No comercial No comercial activity activity activity
Commercial Commercial Commercial activity activity activity infacing assesorias in assesorias in assesorias (ground floor spaces the street)
Commercial Commercial activity activity in complete in complete ground ground Commercial activity in complete ground floor level floor levellevel floorfloor level
Built area
80-90 %
BuiltOpen Built area Built area area patios
80-90 80-90 %80-90 10-15 % %
Built area
70-90 %
Built area
80-90 %
Open Open patios Open patios patios Any use
10-15 10-15 % 10-15 % % 100%
BuiltOpen Built area Built area area patios
70-90 70-90 %70-90 10-30 % %
Built area area BuiltBuilt area Open patios
80-90 % % 80-90 %80-90 10-20%
Open Open patios Open patios patios Housing
10-30 10-30 %10-30 50-70 % %
Open Open patios patios Open patios Housing
10-20% 10-20% 10-20% 40-50 %
AnyAny useAny use use
100% 100% 100%
Housing Housing Housing 50-70 50-70 %10 50-70 % Commerce | workshops % %
Housing Housing 40-50 Housing 40-50 %40-50 Commerce | workshops 30-40 % %
Commerce Commerce Commerce | workshops | workshops | workshops 10 %10 % %10 % Common areas 10-30
Commerce Commerce | workshops | workshops 30-40 % % Commerce | workshops 30-40 %30-40 Common areas 10-30%
Common Common Common areas areas areas 10-30 10-30 %10-30 % %
Common Common areas areas 10-30% Common areas 10-30% 10-30%
Food production
Bank Bank Bank Bank
outsiders outsiders outsiders people: street - main patio - rooms
people: street - stairs - room people: people: people: street street - stairs street -structure stairs --room stairs - room - room Enclosed
(ground (ground (ground floorfloor spaces floor spaces facing spaces facing the facing street) the street) the street)
99
Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel
Housing Housing Housing Housing
Housing Housing Housing Housing
Food production | Aquaponics
FoodFood production production production 0Food kg/year
Food production
0 kg/year 0 kg/year 0 kg/year
FoodFood production production production 0Food kg/year
FoodFood production | m2/year Aquaponics Food production production | Aquaponics | Aquaponics 13 people aprox 13 people aprox 13 people 13m2/year people m2/year m2/year aprox aprox
0 kg/year 0 kg/year 0 kg/year
Fig. 60 Block area Block Block area Block areaarea Built area
Fig. 61
BuiltTotal Built area Built area area population
Analysis of San Fernando’s block. Showing how people interact with the m2 buildings and the7,913 streets(Author, 2017) 7,913 7,913 m27,913 m2 19,400 m2m2 Analysis of existing building’s typologies (Author, 2017) 19,400 19,400 m2 19,400 m2 m2 172 =3.2 /house
Total Total population Total population population
172 172 =3.2172 =3.2 /house =3.2 /house /house
Total housing
54
Inhabited housing
Total Total housing Total housing housing 93
54 39 54 54
Inhabited Inhabited Inhabited housing housing housing Abandoned housing
93 93 93
39 39 39
Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned housing housing housing
Metro Station
40,000 people/day
Metro Metro Station Metro Station Station
40,000 40,000 people/day 40,000 people/day people/day
San Fernando Park, 1862
Area: 4,231 m2
San San Fernando San Fernando Fernando Park, Park, 1862 Park, 18621862
Area: Area: 4,231 Area: 4,231 m2 4,231 m2 m2
Dancing hall
Footprint: 1,435 m2 | Area: 4,304 m2
A traditional space where people from
Dancing Dancing Dancing hall hall hall
Footprint: Footprint: Footprint: 1,435 1,435 m2 1,435 |m2 Area: |m2 Area: 4,304 | Area: 4,304 m2 4,304 m2 m2
A traditional A traditional A traditional space space where space where people where people from fromfrom different social classes gather to people dance different different different social social classes social classes gather classes gather to gather dance to dance to dance
Abandoned historical heritage office
Foot print: 2,007 m2 | Area: 3,547 m2
Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned historical historical historical heritage heritage heritage office office office FootFoot print: Foot print: 2,007 print: 2,007 m2 2,007 |m2 Area: |m2 Area: 3,547 | Area: 3,547 m2 3,547 m2 m2 buildings buildings buildings buildings Hotels
Footprint: 813 m2 | Area: 3,688 m2
Hotels Hotels Hotels
Footprint: Footprint: Footprint: 813 813 m2 |813 m2 Area: |m2 Area: 3,688 | Area: 3,688 m2 3,688 m2 m2
Commerce Commerce Commerce Commerce
Design programme 0. Ground floor This floor is everyone’s common ground. It is a place where the community meets people from the city to gather, enjoy, consume, and share abilities as a collaborative society.
100
Aquaponics building - Public park with recreational areas - Fish tanks of tilapia fish. Equipment: filters, air stones, heating systems, timers, and water pumps - Seeding, germination and working areas
Community courtyard - Space for events - Life, movement, service and interactive space Hall - Dancing hall during the night - Community assemblies centre during the day - Stage - Storage room, backstage, changing rooms and toilets - Community administration office - Ticket office - Bar with kitchen
Hotel - Historical building A - Hotel’s lobby - Waiting area - Luggage storage - Hotel’s restaurant - Bar billiards with kitchen - Hair dresser - Bakery - Tacos restaurant
Facility shops and vecidad - Historical building B - Second hand shop with storage room - Electronic repair shop - Textiles repair shop - Bikes rental - Co-working offices
Food production process and vecindad - Fish sorting, deposit, washing, weighing, cutting, and packing - Veggies deposit, washing, cutting and packing - Freezers for fish and veggies - Seed storage - Vermiculture compost - Fertilizers and nutrients - Community kitchen and dinning room - Community food distribution centre - Food despatch
Market - Fish, veggies and local crafts market - Freezers - Storage rooms and public toilets - Public toilets
Workshops and vecindad - Wood workshop - Stone workshop - Straw workshop - Clay workshop - Pottery workshop - Textiles workshop - Exhibition space - Recycling centre
101
1. Floor This floor is accessed through different public main stairs, through the ground floor from the vecindades and stairs from the aquaponics building. With different paths, space becomes more open to external people, offering facilities to share experiences, knowledge and local goods.
102
Aquaponics building - Entrance from ground floor and paths from 1st floor - Hydroponics grow beds - Seeding, germination and working areas - Recreational areas with double height
Hall - Mezzanine - Hall sound and light setup - Community administration offices
Hotel - Historical building A - Entrance from different paths - Small lobby - Rooms for 1-6 people - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets
Facility shops and vecidad - Historical building B - Shops facing towards different paths - Housing for 1 - 10 people - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets
Food production process and vecindad - Community facilities - Medical clinic - Public library, book sharing - Ateliers houses with 2 floors - Co-working spaces - Housing - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets
Workshops and vecindad - Workshops - Co-working spaces - Housing - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets
Market - Access for terrace 103
2 - 5. Floors Mainly housing, hotel rooms, facilities and common spaces are taken place from the 2nd floor till the upper levels of the vecindades, and the aquaponics food production produces food until the 5th floor.
Aquaponics building (same program up to 5th floor) - Entrance from ground floor and paths from 1st floor - Hydroponics grow beds - Seeding, germination and working areas - Recreational areas with double height
Hall - Solar panels on the roof 104
Hotel - Historical building A - Rooms for 1-6 people - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets - Solar panels on the roof
Facility shops and housing - Historical building B - Housing for 1 - 10 people - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets - Solar panels on the roof
Food production process and housing (same program up to 4nd floor) - Housing - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets - Solar panels on the roof
Workshops and housing (same program up to 5nd floor) - Housing - Common kitchen - Common recreational area - Common laundry - Common toilets - Solar panels on the roof
Market - Terrace - Pool - Bar
105
Fig. 62
Programme axonometry Scale 1:1000. (Author, 2017)
107
108
Fig. 63
Ground floor. Scale 1:500 (Author, 2017)
109
110
Fig. 64
1st Floor. Scale 1:500 (Author, 2017)
111
112
Fig. 65
2nd Floor. Scale 1:500 (Author, 2017)
113
114
Food production and vecindad inhabitants: units
area
users
26
9 m2
25
27 m2
35 54 m2 5 54 m2 1 81 m2 invalidos
1
81 m2
1
108 m
invalidos
2
invalidos
invalidos
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invalidos
invalidos
invalidos
invalidos
115
Workshops and vecindad inhabitants: units 11
area
users
9 m2
4
27 m2
22
54 m2
4
54 m2
1
81 m2 invalidos
invalidos
Fig. 66
Section. Cutting through the aquaponics-cooperative, the dancing hall and the workshops vecindades. Scale 1:500. (Author, 2017) invalidos
invalidos
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100 invalidos
invalidos
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Hotel - Historical heritage building A capacity: units
area
10
9 m2
30
27 m2
4
54 m2
2
54 m2
users
invalidos
invalidos
invalidos
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100 invalidos
invalidos
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Shops and vecindad - Historical building B capacity: units 16
27 m2
12
54 m2
2
54 m2
2
81 m2
2
108 m2
area
users
invalidos
Fig. 67
Elevation. Aquaponics-cooperative, historical heritage building A and B, and market. Scale 1:500. (Author, 2017) invalidos
invalidos
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100
invalidos
invalidos
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100
invalidos
invalidos invalidos
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4 | 03 Materiality
How can the construction encourage a sense of community giving flexibility and identity to San Fernando’s block? To give flexibility to the users, a grid of 3 meters by 3 meters will allow not only growth of spaces but also affordability to the inhabitants as they will have the option to afford a single room of 9m2 or have more significant areas. Both buildings, the housing and the aquaponics, have the same timber balloon frame construction structure. The difference between them is that one is filled up with straw and the other one is filled up with vegetables. According to different architects, vernacular architecture adds cultural value to the place’s society. “Vernacular architecture can be traced back to prehistoric times and is considered a unique identifier of the civilization producing it.” (Salman, Sabie, Easterbrook, & Abate, 2016, p. 185)
As a response to the historic centre’s context, I took as a reference the Aztec’s civilization building techniques and update them according to today needs, to further on implementing them on the block’s buildings design. Fig. 68
Physical model made from wood and gypsum. Vecindades building design (Author, 2017)
119
Vecindades buildings’ materiality design Concept Old building and dwelling construction techniques used in the Aztec period have been studied deeply, as it was the most extensive ancient civilization of America. The Aztecs were craftsmen who used to build their houses with existing materials from the site. They used tezontle volcanic stone, as it is a durable, light, easy to cut and also solid for Tenochtitlan’s sinking subsoil. Pine and oak wood were used for structural platforms as foundations, and as support beams and doors, plus adobe bricks, hay, reeds, thatches of grass and straw were used for walls, which were covered with a stucco mixture. (Aguilar-Moreno, n.d.) Vernacular architecture is a region or society specific response to shelter needs, exploiting resources and building materials available in the ambient environment such as mud, earth, straw, wood, and stone. Through trial and error, generations of community members, builders and craftsmen, often untrained professionally, developed local techniques derived from their needs and the properties of the available materials. (Salman, Sabie, Easterbrook, & Abate, 2016, p. 185)
As Maha Salman et al mentioned, past generations already developed local techniques that were done with regional materials precisely for the user’s needs. This strong knowledge needs to be applied again and bring its historical value to the Mexican culture. In this project, the use of volcanic stone is applied in the ground floor of the buildings and the complete structure of the dancing hall and the market of the community, as these are public spaces. Wooden slabs support a wooden timber balloon frame structure that is filled up by straw bale walls as an envelope, which is covered with clay plaster. Fig. 69, 70 Building’s elevation. Section is shown on next page (Author, 2017)
121
Solar panels 346.6 persons/year
1,039,000 kWh/year 3,000 p/person/year
5,200 m2
Roof construction
Recycled cement screed mixed with 3cm U- Value 0.24 W/m2K perlite insulation granule layer Geotextile filter fabric 1cm Straw insulation 15cm Thin vapor and moisture barrier 2cm Oak pine timber ceiling 3cm Oak pine timber substructure 10cm Timber frame structure 20cm
Interior slab construction Timber finished deck boards 3cm Straw insulation 10cm Oak pine wood ceiling 3cm Oak pine timber substructure 10cm Timber frame structure 20cm Straw wall construction White clay plaster 3cm U- Value 0.23 W/m2K Straw bales 20cm White clay plaster 3cm 123
Stone wall construction U- Value 0.52 W/m2K
Volcanic stone structure Mortar mixture of clay, straw, volcanic stone, recycled concrete, recycled glass aggregate and tezontle Volcanic stone structure
25cm 10cm
25cm
Window
Hawa frontfold 20 folding sliding 20cm U- Value 0.7 W/m2K exterior 2 piece wooden shutters Unilux slanted frame 20cm Double glassed kripton filling window 3cm
Exterior folding door
Hawa front-fold 20 folding sliding 20cm U- Value 0.7 W/m2K exterior 2 piece wooden shutters Unilux slanted frame 20cm Double krypton filling glass door 3cm
Foundation Slab U- Value 0.4 W/m2K
Volcanic stone tiles Crushed volcanic perlite Vapor and moisture insulation barrier Mixture of clay and straw Recycled crushed concrete with recycled glass aggregate Water proof membrane Granular capillary break and drainage pad Geotextile filter fabric Undisturbed existing natural clay soil
5cm 3cm 1cm 5cm 5cm 1cm 15cm 1cm 15cm
Building’s life cycle analysis Several strategies are taken into account to reduce the environmental impact of the building’s design. Durability
124
Both, the system and materiality of the buildings are expected to have a life expectancy of more than one hundred years (True Professionals inc & InterNACHI, n.d.). However, in the building design, the volcanic stone is taken into consideration for the spaces which have more public; as it is a robust material. Whilthewooden structure with the straw bale envelope covered with clay plaster is used for the living; as it doesn’t receive much contact with so many people as in the ground floor. The construction technique of the clay plaster surface must be done with the right properties, as Mexico city has an average humidity of 60%, and the surface of the buildings it is the most important determinant of its lifespan. Joist and small metal components have a shorter life expectancy of 80 years. Nevertheless, these must be inspected seasonally and replaced if needed. As Mexico city has diverse climate conditions through the year, many factors can affect the lifespan of the materials; these can vary from ultraviolet rays, wind, rain, high humidity, and others. Therefore, the building should be maintained once in a while. Still, the construction elements and selection of materials of the buildings are designed to last many years. Material optimization
The compactness of the vecindad building typology, reduces the material quantity of the building, as it has optimized façades, and the building is concentrated in a smaller volume.
Environmental impact
The materials used in the project are regional resources from the surroundings. Volcanic stone is used, as the capital is located in a valley surrounded by volcanoes. Large surface areas of lava are available in the region. Timber will be collected from the forests nearby. Adaptability
In architecture, it is crucial to conserve the existing relevant buildings of a project’s context, not only to reduce energy consumption but to conserve the culture’s historical value. Re-using and adapting the existing historical buildings A and B from the plot, will supply the users needs and will preserve the local identity of the site; which is essential for the creation of a community. Flexibility and affordability
The 3 x 3 meters grid system will allow the people to decide if they live in one 9m2 room or more rooms for a bigger family. They will also be able to decide if they want to have more or fewer divisions according to the grid. It is expected that the community members participate in the building construction process of this neighbourhood, as straw bales are very light and easy to install. Involving the people of the community in the construction process will, not only reduce construction costs, but it will also create and give a stronger identity to the place.
125
Building’s temperature yearly simulation Ambient temperature in Mexico City min
0oC max 30oC
Ambient temperature in Mexico City min 0 oC
Building's design Strategies
Air and operational temperature max 30 C Air and operational min 16oC temperature min 16 C C max 30 max 30oC o
o
o
Building temperature Comfortable temperature Air temperature Ambient temperature Co 30 o 29 o 28 o 27 o 26 o 25 o 24 o 23 o 22 o 21 o 20 o 19 o 18 o 17 o 16 o 15 o 14 o 13 o 12 o 11 o 10 o 9o 8o 7o 6o 5o 4o 3o 2o 1o 0o
Ambient temperature in Mexico City 126 min 0 oC max 30 oC Air and operational temperature min 16 oC max 30 oC January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Operational Buildingtemperature temperature Comfort temperature zone Comfortable temperature Air temperature Air temperature Ambient temperature in Mexico City Ambient temperature
GSPublisherEngine 0.0.100.100
Fig. 71
Building’s temperature yearly simulation by TRNSYSlite (Author, 2017)
Building’s thermal simulation Using the software program of TRNSYSlite as a tool to calculate the yearly building simulations, was a fundamental element of the decision-making process of the project. This simulation provided detailed calculations of the maximum and minimum temperatures of the buildings. Such results helped me to design architecture that provides not only comfortable interior climate but also to use materials wisely, in an optimized way. The energy consumption of a building can be modified when taking into consideration all of the building compositions. Factors like the material’s thermal mass of the building’s envelope, the internal loads and devices, the users, the building’s openings for natural light, natural ventilation, and ambient temperature, can also determine the thermal behaviour of the building. Summer situation 127
As the graph on the last page shows, the vecindades building’s temperature simulation remains passively between the comfort temperature zone; which is from 17oC to 27oC. This result was given without the use of AC. The building can get up to 30oC, but not more than five days in the summer. Crossed ventilation allows comfort for the humid summer. Shutters and the use of over-hangs provide shadow on the east, south and west facades. A thick layer of clay plaster gives thermal mass to regulate heat between the warm days and the colder nights. Winter situation The results presented at this time of the year also remains passive in the comfort zone temperatures. The straw envelope provides enough insulation for the not so low temperatures in winter. The inclination of the sun allows heat gains during the day and the thermal mass heat storage as well during the night.
Aquaponics building materiality design Concept This timber balloon frame construction filled up with veggies, works as a recreational food production machine that is open to the public, but run by the people of the vecindades. Permanent farmers and experts share their agriculture knowledge to the community and the public. It supplies food to the people of the “aquaponics-cooperative”. The cooperative is arranged by people from the community or external people that join the program, and also work part-time for the aquaponics production. The fish and the veggies are processed through the “food production process vecindad” and then distributed in the distribution centre of the community, and the people from the aquaponics-cooperative is in charge of controlling the sales of the fish and veggies production. In order to achieve a better food production performance, different aspects were taken into account. Some of these are: space, water, temperature, energy, ventilation, pesticides and so on. There are few systems for food growth, aquaponics is one of the most efficient ones in many ways. “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (Proverbs 12:11 Bible New International Version)
A direct connection to agricultural knowledge will give the society a better perception of the population needs and will not only give the place a local identity value but also will try to provide necessary food for the majority. Efficient food production systems can enrich the life quality of the inhabitants. Taking care of nature will allow us to sustain over time. Fig. 72
Aquaponics-cooperative building’s elevation (Author, 2017)
129
Water collection 66.5 persons/year
3,639,300 lt/year 150 lt/person/day
Structure
Timber beam framework Joined by metal timberlinxs
Foundation Slab
Volcanic stone tiles Crushed volcanic perlite Vapor and moisture insulation barrier Mixture of clay and straw Recycled crushed concrete with recycled glass aggregate Granular capillary break and drainage pad (no fines) Geotextile filter fabric Undisturbed existing natural lacustrine clay soil
Hanging containers
Fig. 73
5,200 m2
20 x 20 x 300 cm
5cm 3cm 1cm 15cm 15cm 10cm 1cm
Wooden box 20 x 100 x 275 cm Bitumen Filtration stones Water flow from fish tanks with nutrient solution ammonia
Aquaponics-cooperative building’s construction section (Author, 2017)
Plants absorb the nitrates as nutrients
Natural light ++++ Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Swiss chard
+++ Beans Carrots Collards Pak choy Peas Radishes
Rain water collection 3,639,300 lt/year Water output
++ Kale Lettuce Arugula Spinach
is used by the community: 3,639,300 lt/year
+ Herbs Mustard greens Mesclun mix
Hydroponics output (28,595 m2): 300,065 kg/week 490,476 cal/day Water is pumped though the multiple grow beds where it is filtered by plants, and then returned to the fish tank or filtration tank
Water pump
3. Cistern water storage 11 12 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 6 5
Timers
B Air pump
A
Food Tilapia carp fish Migro algae = Ammonia rich waste
Different gravels Water cleaning plants Grasses from fish feed
Tilapia ďŹ sh output 193 kg/day
Water pump
Heater
(2,075 m3 ): 248,970 calories/day
Fish feed tank
Air stones
Filtering tank
Water supply
How it works The aquaponics system is based on the combination and symbiotic interaction of any traditional aquaculture system, which is basically aquatic farming, and hydroponics, described as the soil-less cultivation of plants using mineral nutrients in its water (The Aquaponics Source, n.d.). This collaboration can create a better performance due to the natural fertilizer from the nutrient-rich water that the fish waste generates. This natural ecosystem keeps both, fish and plants nourished. Plants consume fish waste nutrients, such as ammonia; this is a process performed by small groups of self-nourishment bacteria (Nelson Pade, n.d.). The cycle starts from the water supply which passes through different gravel stone filters. After this, it has two options, either it goes to a water storage cistern that also collects rainwater from the housing rooftops, or it goes to the fish tanks which contain equipment like heating systems, air stones, and timers to pump up the water to the hydroponics bed grows that are on top. This water that is pumped from the fish tanks contains ammonia nutrient that allows the production to be more than five times faster than traditional crops. Afterwards, when the water goes through the hydroponic grow beds, this goes to filters and purifies the water by breaking down the composition of the water where the fish live. The water goes back again to the fish tanks in a never-ending cycle. Aquaponics is the best biological symbiosis to solve problems from aquaculture’s waste disposal and hydroponics’ need of nutrient water substance. The building’s orientation towards the south allows the plants to receive sunlight most of the day. Mexico city´s favourable weather conditions allow everything to be grown as the city is never less than 0oC. Thus, no cover or envelope for the building is needed to maintain a temperature higher than that. Its openness provides more ventilation to the plants. Fig. 74
Diagram of aquaponics cycle (Author, 2017)
133
Numbers Total area Total hydroponics grow beds Total water of fish tanks
8,715 m2 43,815 3,112.5 m3
Veggies grow vegetables beds 2,500 5,000 2,500 10,000 13,815 10,000 134
weeks to kg /week calories/kg harvest
lettuce chard bok choy mustard greens kale collards
3.6 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3
1,758.53 4,029.99 2,930.89 2,930.89 8,098.08 7,327.24
150 190 130 270 490 320
total calories per week total calories per day
total calories /week 263,779.5 765,698.1 381,015.7 791,340.3 3,968,059.2 2,344,716.8
8,514,609.6 1,216,372.8
Fish daily production kg/m3 of water 0.062
water volume output m3 3,112.5 (2,075 * 1.5)
193 kg
calories tilapia fish 1,290
total calories
248,970 fish calories
Output Calories needed /person/ day 3,200
total calories produced / week
total calories produced / day
10,257,399.6
1,465,342.8
total people feeded / day
458 people
Food production output The aquaponics-cooperative produces 1,216,372.8 kilocalories every day. Giving a total output of 1,465,342.8 calories, which means that it can supply food every day for 458 Mexicans, which eat 3,200 calories daily. Implementation in the Historic Centre
Using the aquaponics-cooperative proposal in this Master Thesis project can supply food for exactly the total population in the perimeter shown on the plan in pages 92 and 93 of this book. Calculations of the population and the open spaces available on the site are shown on top of the plan. Aquaponics-Cooperative organization
The performance of this building depends on different factors. Starting with the organization, it is necessary to coordinate local farmers and agricultural experts that work full-time in the Aquaponics-Cooperative to make sure that the water pumps are running water the whole time. They are essential workers for the extroverted vecindad because they also share their knowledge with the community and the externals that come to learn. The vecindades’ community has to compost their organic waste in the vermiculture (worm compost) room to have more nutrients and fertilizers for the plants if needed. Now a day, this supply is done by international corporations and few Mexican companies. The vertical farm works as a recreational park, and as a food production machine. It verticality optimizes water consumption and land.
135
5
Conclusion
The impact that our society has in our environment hasn’t been considered in the last centuries. The consequences of avoiding our footprint as humans can lead to a complete catastrophe in our habitat. Nevertheless, we can solve many problems by slightly modify the existing systems. “There’s a lot that we don’t understand, and that we need to understand. And there’s a lot that we already do understand, but aren’t doing, and that we need to be doing.” (Diamond, 2003) Answering the research question
The architectural project of this Master Thesis gave me the opportunity to have a depicted response to my starting research question, which was: ¿How can architecture host a collective system and enhance a sense of community in Mexico City’s historic centre?. The analysis and dialogue of global and regional case studies introduced different spatial qualities and possible solutions to react to the project site’s context. Besides, accurate background and scientific knowledge from Mexico as a city and as a capital proved to have deficits in its social inequality due to its lack of social collaboration and dependency on global industries. The process of this architectural design shows how self-sufficient communities can be achieved by taking into consideration our collaboration as a society, with shared commitment and the result of working as a unit; as one living organism.
Illustrations
The first visualization (next page) shows the configuration of the neighbourhood with the central neighbourhood’s courtyard, the dancing hall, the existing building, the new building which accesses to the ateliers of the inhabitants, and the aquaponics-cooperative on the back. On the second picture, shows the aquaponics-cooperative building, with the fish tanks on the ground floor and the hydroponics production on the upper floors. Social interaction is promoted within the community and the public by the production of food cultivation, process and education. Aspects to consider
Proper urban agriculture is still not developed in Mexico City. The lack of knowledge is crucial for this to happen. The idea of growing food within strictly urban areas is not yet comprehensive within the culture; it needs to be spread. Open spaces are scarce or in small extension. The urgency of treating this wisely is immense. Buying food instead of producing it continues to be the most appealing alternative for most inhabitants of the capital in this century. Final conclusion
I want to conclude that I have this vision that with efficient food production systems and architecture that complements a program that is open and extroverted to the society, we can achieve sustaining a city; as big as the metropolis of Mexico City. Fig. 75 Fig. 76
(next pages): Visualization of the Extroverted vecindad (Author, 2017) Visualization of the Aquaponics-cooperative (Author, 2017)
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Estion es ute rae et quae ea ipsam qui bla non platect assedi disciur, omni.
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Estion es ute rae et quae ea ipsam qui bla non platect assedi disciur, omni.
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Documentation of midterm and final critique “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Bible New International Version) 143
Fig. 77
Master Thesis final presentation (Alba, 2017)
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Fig. 78-83
(next pages) Pictures of physical models. Acuaponisc-cooperative building. pg. 146,147 Pictures of physical models. Vecindades buildings model p. 149,149 (Author, 2017)
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7 Lists of references
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Architecture Exhibition, The Venice Biennial. Retrieved from http://museumeinharod.org.il/ wp-content/uploads/2016/05/kibbutz_architecture_full.pdf Bermúdez, S., Garrido, F., Leyva, J. P., Riestra, M., Vega, H. G., Barros, C., … Morales, L. (2005). El expediente Pueblo de maíz. La cocina ancestral de México. El Expediente ante la UNESCO. Coordinacion de Patrimonio Cultural, Desarrollo Y Turismo. Retrieved from http://www.cultura.gob.mx/turismocultural/cuadernos/pdf/cuaderno10.pdf Bible. (n.d.). Proverbs 12:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, The Holy Bible New International Version. Burton, T., Geo-Mexico, & INEGI. (2007). The number and size of farms, 2007_INEGI Data. Geo-Mexico. Retrieved from http://geo-mexico.com/?p=11024 Bustos Guajardo, R. (2017). El papel de México en la producción y exportación de frutas y verduras | El Economista. Retrieved January 25, 2018, from https:// www.eleconomista.com.mx/opinion/El-papel-deMexico-en-la-produccion-y-exportacion-de-frutasy-verduras-20171016-0088.html Cerda, A., González, A., & Ocejo, C. (2015). Mediciones Hidrológicas: La Cuenca de México. In 1 (Ed.), Catedra Blanca CEMEX 2015-2016. Mexico, D.F.: Catedra Blanca CEMEX.
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Dailyoverview. (2016). Thousands of trucks and cars surround the Central de Abasto - Mexico City’s largest wholesale market for produce and other foodstuffs. The market serves more than 300,000 people and handles over 30,000 tons of merchandise each day —representing 80% of the. Dailyoverview. Retrieved from http://www.dailyoverview.com/fifty/ de Zurita, A., & Keen, B. (1994). Life and Labor in Ancient Mexico: The Brief and Summary Relation of the Lords of New Spain. University of Oklahoma Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.li/books?id=Z6vHgQg8osQC Diamond, J. (2003). Jared Diamond: Why do societies collapse? Retrieved January 30, 2018, from https://www.ted. com/talks/jared_diamond_on_why_societies_collapse/transcript#t-1074562
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Gonzalez Alonso, D. (2017). San Fernando block’s pictures. Daniel Gonzalez Alonso. González de León, M. (n.d.). Barrio Tepito. MX City guia insider. Retrieved from http://mxcity.mx/2015/12/ tepito-ombligo-del-mundo/ Greener Cities. (2015). Ciudad de México: Ciudades más verdes en América Latina y el Caribe. Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/ greenercities/es/cmvalc/ciudad_de_mexico.html
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I. M., I. (2012). Madero Street, Mexico City. Flickr. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivangm/7111448723 Ideenkanal. (2010). Gartenkooperative Region Liechtenstein-Werdenberg. Retrieved from http://www. ideenkanal.com/de/ideen/gefoerderte-idee/gartenkooperative-region-liechtenstein-werdenberg INAH, & Cordinacion Nacional de Monumentos Historicos. (2011). ZMHCH.pdf. Coordinacion Nacional de Monumentos Historicos. In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All. (2015). OECD Publishing. https://doi. org/10.1787/9789264235120-en INEGI. (2005). Rainforest agriculture and irrigation agriculture surface in Mexico. INEGI de México. Retrieved January 31, 2018, from https://mapasinteractivos.
didactalia.net/comunidad/mapasflashinteractivos/ recurso/mapa-de-superficie-agricola-de-mexico-inegi-de/c0da2ffd-3299-406f-90ca-f5994726afdf INEGI. (2010). Population per type of dwelling. INEGI. Klaebe, H. (2008). Building a sense of community. 9th Australiasian Urban History Planning Conference: Seachange:New and Renewed Urban Landscapes. Detroit Institute of Arts Museum. Retrieved from http:// eprints.qut.edu.au/14066/ Krier, L., & Leuon, K. (2009). The Architecture of Community. (Dhiru A Thadani & P. J. Hetzel, Eds.). Island Press. Lopez Luz, P. (2015). Overcrowded dwellings in Mexico City: Waves of humanity. Maudslay, A. P. (1916). The Valley of Mexico City. The Geographic Journal. Latin American Studies. McDonough, W., & Braungart, M. (2002). Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York, NY: North Point Press. McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;23. https://doi. org/10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:1<6::AIDJCOP2290140103>3.0.CO;2-I
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Mexican network of Agroalimentary Policies Investigation (Red Mexicana de Investigacion en Politica Agroalimentaria). (2010). Unidades Representativas de Producción Acuícola y Pesquera. Retrieved from http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/agronegocios/Documents/LINEAMIENTOS AGRG/RE_2010_3-4. pdf Millier, D. (n.d.). Familistère de Guise Interior. Sites. Retrieved from https://sites.arte.tv/abgedreht/de/derdiavortrag-das-familistere-zu-besuch-einer-realenutopie-pnb
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Mumford, L. (2007). Excerpts from the South in Architecture: Critical Positions in Architectural Regionalism. In V. B. Canizaro (Ed.), Architectural Regionalism: Collected Writings on Place, Identity, Modernity, and Tradition. (pp. 96–102). New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press. Nelson Pade. (n.d.). Aquaponics Overview - Nelson &amp; Pade, Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from https://aquaponics.com/aquaponics-overview/ Neomexicanismos. (2016). Calpulli. Neomexicanismos. Retrieved from http://neomexicanismos.com/ noticias/historia-calpulli-hallazgo-arqueologico-pino-suarez-la-sociedad-aztera-era-democratica/ Numbeo. (2016). Cost of Living in Mexico City. Numbeo. Numbeo. Retrieved from https://www.numbeo. com/cost-of-living/in/Mexico-City
Ourworldindata. (2016). Inequality of incomes before and after taxes and transfers, 2014. OECD, Social Protection & Well-Being, Income Distribution Database. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/inequality-of-incomes-before-and-after-taxes-and-transfers-scatter?overlay=sources Owen, R. (n.d.). Lithographic print of New Lanark advertisement from the early 19th Century. University of Glasgow Library. Retrieved from https://universityofglasgowlibrary.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/ new-lanark-collection-at-archive-services/ Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Extrovert | Definition of extrovert in English by Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved January 22, 2018, from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/extrovert OxfordDictionaries. (2017). Definition of collective. OxfordDictionaries. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/collective OxfordDictionaries. (2017). Definition of community. OxfordDictionaries. OxfordDictionaries. (2017). Definition of sense. Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/sense OxfordDictionaries. (2017). Definition of system. OxfordDictionaries. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/system
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OxfordDictionaries. (2017). Definition of transparency. OxfordDictionaries. Retrieved from https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/transparency Pariona, A. (2017). Farmers in their field in Puebla, Mexico. World Atlas The Economy Of Mexico. Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/ the-economy-of-mexico.html Rebolledo, A. M. (n.d.-a). Elements of the vecindad. Plans taken from the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH); redrawn by Alejandro M. Rebolledo. 158
Rebolledo, A. M. (n.d.-b). Original Calpulli house from Tenochtitlan. Archivo General de la Nacion. Rebolledo, A. M. (1998). Vecindades in the Traza of Mexico City. National Library of Canada. Rivera, D. (1945). The Great City of Tenochtitlan, painting by Diego Rivera. National Palace of Mexico: El Comandante. SAGARPA. (2017, April 15). Avanza México como una potencia en producción acuícola. Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganaderoa, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca Y Alimentacion. La Paz, Baja California, Mexico. Retrieved from http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/Delegaciones/ bajacaliforniasur/boletines/2017/abril/Documents/2017BS135.PDF
Salman, M., Sabie, S., Easterbrook, S. M., & Abate, J. (2016). Sustainable and Smart: Rethinking What a Smart Home Is. Fourth International Conference on ICT for Sustainability (ICT4S’2016), Amsterdam, NL., (Ict4s), 184–193. Sarason, S. B. (1974). The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Schwarz, D. (2015). Relevant and measurable themes of sustainability by higlighting the main needs of a society. Liechtenstein: Dietrich Schwarz’ Design Studio. Smith, M. E. (2011). Classic Maya Settlement Clusters As Urban Neighborhoods: A Comparative Perspective on Low-Density Urbanism. Journal de La Société Des Américanistes. Stedile, J. P., & Martins Carvalho, H. (2010). Soberanía Alimentaria: una necesidad de los pueblos. Retrieved from http://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/ fass/article/viewFile/16223/11759 Tamayo, L. M., Valverde, C., & Aguilar, A. G. (1989). Social conditions as defined by a multivariate social indicator, by municipalities in Mexico City, 1980. Map no. III.3.6. In Atlas de México (Desigualda). Mexico, D.F.: Instituto de Geografía, UNAM. The Aquaponics Source. (n.d.). What is Aquaponics. Retrieved January 29, 2018, from https://www.theaquaponic-
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Autonomedia. Retrieved from http://o500.org/ books/pm_power_of_neighborhood.pdf Wold, T., & Lopez, J. (n.d.). Ilustration of the Aztecs building a chinampa and hunting on the back. They spear birds, net fish and wield an elaborate net to trap birds in flight. Pinterest. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com.mx/ pin/291819250839043173/?lp=true Zapata, E., & JesĂşs Silva Herzog. (1969). Plan de Ayala (1911). Breve Historia de la RevoluciĂłn Mexicana. (Ciencias Sociales). Retrieved from http://www.worldpolicy.org/sites/default/files/uploaded/image/ Zapata-1911-Plan de Ayala.pdf 161
8 List of Figures
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Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3 Fig 4 Fig 5 Fig 6 Fig 7 Fig 8 Fig 9 Fig 10 Fig 11 Fig 12 Fig 13 Fig 14 Fig 15 Fig 16 Fig 17 Fig 18
Madero Street, Mexico City (p.12) Building a sense of community (p.18) Liechtenstein’s Gartenkooperative community harvesting vegetables (p.24) Lithographic print of New Lanark advertisement from the early 19th Century (p.26) Kibbutz Ein Harod, 1934; architect: Richard Kauffmann (p.27) Charles Fourier “phalanx community model” (p.28) Familistère de Guise Interior (p.29) Analogue picture of Kalkbreite cooperative (p.30) Communal recreational area, Neugrüen quartier (p.31) Neustart Schweiz micro-centers distribution (p.32) Barrio Tepito (p.34) Calpullis clusters (p.36) Calpullis sharing their knowledge (p.37) Cross section of the Aztecs house (p.38) Original Calpulli house from Tenochtitlan (p.39) Ground floor and upper floor of El Corral del Conde Sevilla (p.40) Conde Santiago de Calimaya House, Mexico City (p.41) Elements of the typology of the Vecindades: 1. Zahuan or entrance: transition space between the public and the semi-public. 2. The patio: nervous system or common space that gives circulation, light and wind to the dwellings; it was also an extension of the dwellings. 3. The dwellings: private domestic activi
ties or workshops. 4. The accesorias or commercial activity (p.18) Fig 19 Evolution of the urban area and population density in Mexico City from 1600 to 1989 (p.44) Fig 20 Social conditions defined by a multivariate social indicator, municipalities in Mexico City, 1980. Map no. III.3.6. (p.45) Fig 21 The Great City of Tenochtitlan, painting by Diego Rivera (p.46) Fig 22 Overcrowded dwellings in Mexico City: Waves of humanity. (p.48) Fig 23 The Valley of Mexico City (p.50) Fig 24 Lake Texcoco vs. urban sprawl. D.F. (p.52) Fig 25 Natural resources in Mexico City (p.53) Fig 26 Agriculture during the prehispanic era. Ilustration of the Aztecs building a chinampa and hunting on the back. They spear birds, net fish and wield an elaborate net to trap birds in flight. (p.54) Fig 27 Agriculture now a days. Field crops in Puebla, Mexico. (p.54) Fig 28 Peasant march in the capital to remember the birth of Emiliano Zapata (p.56) Fig 29 The number and size of farms, 2007 (p.57) Fig 30 Vegetables and fruits production average, Mexico (p.58) Fig 31 Rainforest agriculture and irrigation agriculture surface in Mexico. INEGI de MĂŠxico (p.58) Fig 32 Economic census, INEGI 2009 (p.59) Fig 33 Aquaculture in Mexico (p.60) Fig 34 Economic panorama of Tejupilco (p.60) Fig 35 Areal view of the Central de Abastos de la Ciudad de Mexico. Thousands of trucks and cars surround the Central de Abasto - Mexico Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest wholesale market for produce and other foodstuffs. The market serves more than 300,000 people and handles over 30,000 tons of merchandise each day - representing
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Fig 36 Fig 37 Fig 38 Fig 39 Fig 40 Fig 41 Fig 42 Fig 43 Fig 44 Fig 45 Fig 46 Fig 47 Fig 48 Fig 49 Fig 50 Fig 51 Fig 52 Fig 53 Fig 54 Fig 55 Fig 56 Fig 57
30% of the consumption of the Mexico City metropolitan area. (p.61) Food distribution from self-service stores in Mexico city (p.64) Inequality of incomes before and after redistribution (data taken from 2012 to 2014). From the Gini coefficient values 0 is the perfect equality, higher values reflect more inequality. The horizontal axis measures inequality of ‘market incomes’. The vertical axis measures inequality of disposable incomes. Source: OECD Income Distribution Database, 2016 (p.66) Cost of Living in Mexico City (p.67) Mexico City centre, 1907 (p.68) National Catalogue of Historic Monuments, Historic Centre, Mexico City (p.70) Historic Centre of Mexico City (p.72-73) San Fernando’s block. View from San Fernando street to Av. Hidalgo (p.74) San Fernando’s block existing buildings (p.76) Historical heritage buildings. On the left building A and on the right building B (p.78) Building A’s neoclassical corner’s ornament (p.78) Analogue picture taken in 1935. View from Av. Hidalgo. In the back is the Alameda Central park (p.79) Ground floor and 1st floor, Buildings A and B (p.80) Elevation. Historical heritage buildings A and B (p.81) Dancing hall, Salon Hidalgo (p.82) Intersection’s buildings from Heroes Street (p.82) San Fernando’s park and temple (p.84) San Fernando’s cementry (p.84) Av. Hidalgo (p.86) Av. Hidalgo, San Hipolito Convent (p.86) Physical model of site. Model’s scale 1:500 (p.88) Emotional scenario. Utopia of Mexico City, 2067 (p.90) Physical model of site. Model’s scale 1:500 (p.92)
Fig 58 Analysis of open spaces and parks as productive land (p.94-95) Fig 59 Physical model of San Fernando’s extroverted vecindad (p.96) Fig 60 Analysis of San Fernando’s block. Showing how people interact with the buildings and the streets (p.98) Fig 61 Analysis of existing building’s typologies (p.99) Fig 62 Programme isometric Scale 1:1000 (p.106-107) Fig 63 Ground floor. Scale 1:500 (p.108-109) Fig 64 1st Floor. Scale 1:500 (p.110-111) Fig 65 2nd Floor. Scale 1:500 (p.112-113) Fig 66 Section. Cutting through the aquaponics-cooperative, the dancing hall and the workshops vecindades. Scale 1:500 (p.114-115) Fig 67 Elevation. Aquaponics-cooperative, historical heritage building A and B, and market. Scale 1:500 (p.116-117) Fig 68 Physical model made from wood and gypsum. Vecindades building design (p.118) Fig 69 Building’s elevation. Section (p.120) Fig 70 Building’s section is shown on next page (p.122) Fig 71 Building’s temperature yearly simulation by TRNSYSlite (p.126) Fig 72 Aquaponics-cooperative building’s elevation (p.128) Fig 73 Aquaponics-cooperative building’s construction section (p.130) Fig 74 Diagram of aquaponics cycle (p.132) Fig 75 Visualization of the Extroverted vecindad (p.138-139) Fig 76 Visualization of the Aquaponics-cooperative (p.140-141) Fig 77 Final presentation (p.142) Fig 78-83 Physical model of Aquaponics-cooperative building and vecindad’s building made from wood and gypsum (p.144-149)
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9 Affidavit
Extroverted Vecindades:
A collective system for an open self-sufficient society in Mexico City I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that the present paper has been prepared independently by myself and without unpermitted aid. Anything that has been taken verbatim or paraphrased from other writings has been identified as such. This paper has hitherto been neither submitted to an examining body in the same or similar form, nor published.
Vaduz, Liechtenstein Ilse Gabriela MartĂnez GonzĂĄlez
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I would like to thank everyone who was there for me during my master studies in the University of Liechtenstein. Especially to my two-years study adviser, Dietrich Schwarz, to my professors, fellow colleges, friends and family from Mexico and Liechtenstein, and of course to my everyday inspiration, Rodrigo.
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