NATURE RESERVE as a catalyzer
mm H
how WILL WE
LIVE
TOGETHER?
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How will we live together?
La Biennale di Venezia Biennale ARCHITETTURA 2020: HOW WILL WE LIVE TOGETHER?
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
“We need a new spatial contract. In the context of widening political divides and growing economic inequalities, we call on architects to imagine spaces in which we can generously live together: together as human beings who, despite our increasing individuality, yearn to connect with one another and with other species across digital and real space; together as new households looking for more diverse and dignified spaces for inhabitation; together as emerging communities that demand equity, inclusion and spatial identity; together across political borders to imagine new geographies of association; and together as a planet facing crises that require global action for us to continue living at all. (...) The year 2020 has often been referred to as a milestone on the path to a better future. Many nations and cities have devised a ‘Vision 2020.’ The year is upon us. We look to the collective architectural imagination to meet this momentous occasion with creativity and courage.” - Hashim Sarkis (curator)
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How will we live together?
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HOW /hou/ adverb 1. in what way or manner; by what means. “how does it work?” 2. used to ask about the condition or quality of something. “how was your vacation?”
Although human actions may seem to have a low impact, actually the set of actions of all individuals bring results on a larger scale, and might be reflected in a positive benefit or a negative result for the city.
human scale
actions
actions
actions
Can human scale actions have an urban scale impact?
urban scale
actions
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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live /live/ verb 1. spend one’s life in a particular way or under particular circumstances. “people are living in fear in the wake of the shootings” 2. make one’s home in a particular place or with a particular person. “I’ve lived in New England all my life”
Individuals should be concern about the natural equilibrium, not for having natural resources easy to reach, people can abuse and see them as their property. There must be and individual and colective concern.
conscious
ourselves
conscious
conscious
CAN WE RECOGNIZE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE NATURAL EQUILIBRIUM?
natural equilibrium
conscious
How will we live together?
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together /təˈɡeT͟Hər/ adverb 1. with or in proximity to another person or people. “together they climbed the dark stairs” 2. in combination; collectively. “taken together, these measures would significantly improve people’s chances of surviving a tornado”
Each person has different interests, never the less people come together when they have to face a common issue, but this has to happen not only when a problem is presented, but there must be a colective interest.
interests
interests
individual
interests
interests
Can individual interests become a colective concern?
colective concern
interests
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
By defining these three words and posing such questions, we seeked to illustrate our personal interests and worries, in relation with topics we feel sould be considered as part of our responsibilities as architects. With this in mind, we identified two subjects that could help us answer such interrogations; natural resources and education. The 3 questions worked as premises for the development of our project but above all, as aspirations. Hugo Fernando Gómez Saldaña Moises Abraham Cortés Vite Mónica Muñoz Rodríguez
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How will we live together?
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WATER “The expansion of the urban footprint has caused an occasional impact on the territory and natural resources, beyond the limits of its regeneration and sustainability. The most notorious case is presented in the water system. Queretaro faces increasing problems of water scarcity and flooding, largely due to a lack of natural areas and rain infrastructure.” Q500
75m
300m
MA LER
WATER CONSUMP
PTION NSUM O C R RIVE
T I ON F RO M
LERMA RIVER CO NSUMP TION
AQU I FE
200 liters per person - 1day
R
ABSORPTION
ZONA MIC ROC UEN CA
ABSORPTION
RESERVA E L T ÁNG AN
JURICA PO NIEN TE
WATER IN QUERETARO O
PEÑA COL ORA DA
ABSOR P T I O N A B SORP TION
ABSORPTION
S
400 000m3/DAY 40% LERMA
60% AQUIFER 4 ABSORPTION ZONES 1 INSIDE THE CITY
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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75m
300m
The over exploitation of the aquiffers is at a point where water has to be extracted from 300m underground, instead of the 75 mt which is the normal level.
MA LER
WATER CONSUMP
PTION SUM CON IR VER
T I ON F RO M
LERMA RIVER CO NSUMP TION
AQU I FE
R
ABSORPTIO
JURICA PO NIEN TE
ABSORPTION
RESERVA E L
TÁN GAN
O
PEÑA COL ORA DA
ABSORPTION A BSOR PTIO N
ABSORPTION
S
N Water from aquifers is not recharging as it should; absorption ZONA MIC ROC U is 50% less thanENCextracted. This A situation has made deformations due to soil compaction for IN (ground waterWATER extraction QUERETAROThis means soil is subsidence). losing its normal levels, making deformations in topography. This modification of topography made the zero line to chance. The zero line (not to confuse with sea level) is the natural level of water flows in rivers. The groundwater recharge occurs in high levels of topography, due to its soil characteristics (non clayey soil). In Queretaro the spaces for recharge are now urbanized, so they became non permeable, dragging water to low levels of topography, which are usually urbanized.
200 liters per person - 1day
400 000m3/DAY 40% LERMA
60% AQUIFER 4 ABSORPTION ZONES 1 INSIDE THE CITY
How will we live together?
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EDUCATION 85 000
STU DEN
PRIVATE SCH OOL
TS has been mainly impulsed by CHOOL The economic dynamism LIC S of Queretaro PUB the industrial activity. Its expansion has been along with the industrial LITERA CY parks, nowadays Queretaro is an industrial city.
EDUCATION IN QUERETARO
95%
9.5 7 000 te acher s
YEARS IN SCHOOL
CAN READ AND WRITE
85 000
PRIVATE SCH OOL
CHOOL LIC S B U P
STU DEN TS
LITERA CY
EDUCATION IN QUERETARO
9.5 7 000 te acher s
Compared to the number of research zones in the city we can observe that they are almost the same as the industrial parks. We must comprehend the impact of this industrial growth in our economy, but most importantly on how it can evolve to become a driver of knowdelege. For this to happen it is crucial to understand the actors that play a role in the growth of this field, in order to generate benefits to their interests, but also with main line, which is knowdelege to the city.
YEARS IN SCHOOL
95%
CAN READ AN
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MEXIC
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6.5 H
10
IDE
WORLDW
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LITERACY
R
MÉXICO U.S.
86% 93% 99%
OICE
FEELING ABOUT SC
IENCE
LITTLE 49%
NV
CIT
INDIFFERENT
NOTHIN G
IZ E
80%
A LOT
DOES
THIN
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64%
WANT TO KN
IS IT
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%
78
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IMP
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graphic divided into three axes shows data about science and education in Mexico, its contrast worlwide, and citizen concerns about this topic.
D
AN
WOR
CURIOUS
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
ERL
ITZ
SW
9.1
120+ MILLION
TEC H
1.1 0.4 7% %
5.3 H
46%
00
CIE NCE &
8.4
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11 0
ORLD SW
POOVE
EXICO M N
1443 334
PIB S
REaD
94%
PIB IN EDUC ATIO N
OL CHO FS SO AR YE
CAIT ON
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EDU
70%
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% 70
POPUL
CES
Y
O AC
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AVE N
ERT POOV
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IN 46%
REM
19
O
FINLA ND
# OF SCIENTIST S
EXT
AG VER CO
E IN
370 3D
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7 007
F PE
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WORLWIDWE
M E X IC O
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
ING
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MS
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María Portillo, Professor, researcher Cátedra Conacyt, 2019.
BAS
VER YDA YA CTI
IFIC
CIE
NCE
NCE
“It is not that we all have the vocation to be a scientist, but we can support the system so that our country evolves in this area; instead of leading Mexico to intellectual suicide and brain drain, we must turn Mexico into a knowledge society, where we all participate in this activity, since it requires great support to be carried out efficiently, and to be seen the result reflected in a benefit for all Mexican society.”
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TO K N
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IN S
SCIE
ING
HIN
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ST IN
SCIE ING IN
TRUST
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BEL
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L FAL
DY A
OUT SCIE
NC
IES
E
CE
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How will we live together?
nature RESERVES 7. The state law of ecological balance and protection of the environment, in its article 94 defines the concept of ecological preservation areas of population centers by establishing that they are those built by human beings inside these centers, aimed at achieving and maintaining green areas in proportion to urban development and its artistic, historical and aesthetic values, and mitigate the negative environmental effects that occur in population centers. (Jurica Poniente decree)
REMAINING AREA
25 491 Ha 30.2% NATURE RESERVE
REMAINING AREA The natural areas in Queretaro have been diminished due to the disobey of laws and decrees regarding this The real Nature reserves are disconnected from the city. Urbanizable areas within the city thattopic. have potential of provi30.2% ding an environmental services are being wasted. state development has benefit NATURE RESERVE from this situation, creating a chaotic large urban footprint. The number of square meters of green areas and nature reserves has decreased over the last years. There are 4 nature reserves in the city, facing a constant danger from being reduced due to the Nature reserve urban growht; Most of them Land use modificated on environmental spaces have. Nature reserve Land use modificated on environmental spaces
25 491 Ha
Nature reserves are disconnected from the city. Urbanizable areas within the city that have potential of provi-
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
Corridor The corridor is located in the north west area of the city within the nature Reserve Jurica Poniente. It has Loma Bonita on the east side, and Jurica on the west. Although it begins as an urban corridor, it turns into a natural one when entering the nature reserve. We find marked differences between the two surrounding areas, both physical and social. Disregarding the differences between those two zones, the disputes that affects both of them are natural resources and education. We found that the corridor is the place where those two concerns assemble.
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WHAT IS THE
ROLE
OF A NATURE
RESERVE?
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How will we live together?
SOCIOECONOMIC index This index is generated by the INEGI, some of the variables it considers are: number of people with post-secondary education, illiterate population, percentage of housing with a car, number of rooms per house, among others. It is very clear that Jurica is the only neighboorhood with a very high index in the area. The group that predominates in Loma Bonita is low.
Very high High Medium Medium low Low Very low Self-made map with data from INEGI, 2010
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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literacy This map shows the average years of education that the population has; the darker the color, the higher number of years. Although spaces with medium to high levels of education are scattered throughout Loma Bonita, it is a clear distinction that Jurica is the neighboorhood with the most steady data. In some areas, there are spaces which adjoin with others that double the years of education.
12.6 - 19 years 10 - 12.6 years 7.6 - 10 years 0 - 7.5 years 0 - 6 years Self-made map with data from INEGI, 2010
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How will we live together?
POPULATION DENSITY This map shows the number of pupulation per area, ranging from very high to very low. Jurica is the only neighboorhood with very low density, while Loma bonita ranges from very high to low. It is important to mention that Loma Bonita has a problem of overcroding combined with unoccupied dwellings,
Self-made map with data from INEGI, 2015
Very high High Medium Low Very low
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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irregular and closed settlements There are several irregular settlements as well as closed residential complexes on the western area of the corridor. The fact that these types of settlements are only located around Loma Bonita is evidence that the quality of housing on Jurica is very different from that.
Irregular settlemet Closed residential complex Self-made map with data from Implan Queretaro and SEDESU, 2015
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How will we live together?
URBAN MOBILITY This map shows the levels of accesibility to the public transport network, from very high to very low.. Jurica is the neighboorhood with th least accesibility to the network although there are several areas with low accesibility too in Loma Bonita. Improving connectivity on the East-West direction is a big opportunity area.
Very high High Medium Low Very low Self-made map with data from ONU-Habitat Queretaro, 2015
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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flood areas This map shows that practically all areas adjacent to the canal are vulnerable to flooding. Disregarding all the differences previously seen in the rest of the maps, both areas surrounding the water body are equally affected by natural phenomenons such as floodings.
Areas with high flood vulnerability Self-made map with data from ONU-Habitat Queretaro and Plan Pluvial ZMQ, 2015
How will we live together?
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LOMA BONITA
50 000 m2
Sidewalks and lots
Built area
A typical sqare in Loma bonita looks like this. Athough some streets folow a reticular grid, there are some others that cross diagonally. Some streets are cul-de-sacs, obstructing mobility. Most lots measure around 100 m2 and a few range from 500 to 700 m2. Pedestrian infrastructure Built area is very dense, constructions occupy a very large portion of each property and there are some empty lots throughout the area.
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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JURICA
50 000 m2
Sidewalks and lots
Built area
A typical sqare in Jurica looks like this. All the streets follow a reticular grid ans sqares are quite big. Most lots measure around 2 000 m2 altough they range from 500 to 5 000 m2 Pedestrian infrastructure is very good, it occupies almost twice as much space as car infrastructure. Built area is not dense at all, constructions occupy a very small portion of each property and there are also some empty lots throughout the area.
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How will we live together?
jurica poniente: Jurica Poniente is the only nature reserve that has maintained its extension, but since it is also the only one that is surrounded entirely by urban footprint, it is a matter of time in where it becomes part of it. Decreed as nature reserve on September 12th of 2006, it has a total area of 224.11 Ha. This nature reserve is located on a strategic point, it protects the housing settlements of the area from floodings.
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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How will we live together?
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Pirul Schinus molle
Photo by Tasmin Carlis
A fast growing, evergreen tree with a wide, multibranched crown of weeping foliage; it generally grows 6 - 8 metres tall. (Kern, 2014) Uses: medicinal, edible, provides shade. Environmental services: They regenerate the soil with their litter, infiltrate rainwater, control erosion. Birds consume their fruits. (Martínez, 2017)
Mezquite Prosopis laevigata
Photo by Francisco Ortiz Navarro
It can grow up to 13 meters of height, yellow flowers grouped in spikes. Uses: medicinal, edible, exploitable wood. Environmental services: The surrounding soil is a niche of microbiological diversity, so fertility islands are generated around it, improving the quality of the soil and infiltrating rainwater. (Martínez, 2017)
Ahuehuete Montezuma cypress
Photo by José Belem Hernández Díaz
It can grow up to 35 m of height, deciduous during winter. Uses: medicinal, ornamental. Environmental services: It helps control erosion, stabilizes hydrographic accounts, infiltrates rainwater, improves soils with its leaf litter, fixes the swampy banks. (Martínez, 2017)
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
Huizache Acacia farnesiana
Photo by Zabdiel Peralta
An evergreen tree that can grow up to 10 m in height with yellow aromatic flowers. Uses: medicinal, exploitable wood, Environmental services: Rapid reproduction at maturity, helps retain eroded and dry soil, water filtration, gives shade and shelter to wildlife and acts as a windbraker. (Martínez, 2017)
Biznaga de chilitos Mimmilaria Magnimamma
Photo by Zabdiel Peralta
Cactus with a globose body and an intense green color with a tendency to create large colonies that barely reach 30 cm in height. It produces bright red fruits that are edible. It is endemic from Mexico and catalogued as vulnerable status and as a species in danger of extinction. (Martínez, 2017)
Xoconostle Opuntia imbricata
Photo by James N. Stuart
Succulent and prickly plant, up to 3 m high. Purple or red petals. The fruit is a globose berry very similar to a stem when immature, red when ripe. If it abounds, it means disturbance Uses: ornamental Environmental service: soil retention and water filtration (Martínez, 2017)
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How will we live together?
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Garambullo Myrtillocactus geometrizans Arborescent cactus that can grow up to 4 m of height, it is an endemic species from Mexico. Uses: ornamental and edible Environmental services: It serves as a shelter for birds and small mammals, source of nectar and pollen for various insects. Retains soils and infiltrates water to the mantles. (Martínez, 2017) Photo by Natalie Raeber
Maguey Agave salmiana
Plant from 1.2 to 1.5 m height with 10 to 20 leaves of 1 m long, it flourishes from April to August. Native species from Mexico. Uses: From the stems, mead and pulque is obtained. (Martínez, 2017) Photo by Juan Carlos López Dominguez
Tullidora Karwinskia humboldtiana
Photo by Bernardo Marino Maldonado
Gray shrubby plant with very small flowers. It is very abundant, specially witin disturbed areas Uses: Although the pulp of the fruit is edible, the seeds are extremely toxic and its leaves are poisonous for the cattle. Environmental services: Eroded soil retention, water percolation (Martínez, 2017)
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
Uña de gato Mimosa biuncifera
Photo by Ulianov Albarran
Deciduous shrub from 0.5 to 3 meters tall with thorny branches. Environmental services: Erosion control, infiltration of rainwater, improve the soil with its litter, fix nitrogen to the ground and work as a windbreak curtain. (Martínez, 2017) Disturbance indicator species.
Palo bobo Ipomoea murucoides
Photo by Carla Ruiz Sánchez
Deciduous tree from 2 to 8 m of height, trunk up to 40 cm wide. It is one of the most common species in Queretaro. Uses: medicinal, exploitable wood. Environmental services: Rainwater infiltration, gives shelter and food to wildlife (Martínez, 2017) Disturbance indicator species.
Ocotillo Dodonaea viscosa
Photo by Natalie Raeber
Vicious shrub growing from 1-3 meters tall that flourishes throughout the year. It grows mostly on creek edges, deteriorated grasslands and eroded land. Uses: medicinal, exploitable wood. Disturbance indicator species.
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nature
reserve as a
catalizer
How will we live together?
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the plan Before defining our strategies, we started by looking back at our initial premises that defined “How will we live together?” Can human scale actions have an urban scale impact? Can we recognize ourselves as part of the natural equilibrium? Can individual interests become a colective concern? These questions lead us to divide it in two: soft and hard strategies.
WATER RAINWATER HARVESTING
ABSORPTION
hard SOFT
WATER TREATMENT AQUIFER RECHARGE
EMERGENCY CONTENTION HOUSING ADAPTATION
RIVER MORPHOLOGY
INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS
These strategies are divided on four subjects: Water Land use Ecosystem Mobility
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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water containment
water treatment
artiďŹ cial recharge tracked wildlife
water containment specialized education
water research
water treatment
government dependency citizen participation wellness activities
retail trade
cultural center kid´s park
tracked wildlife
urban gardens
mixed-use
wellness activities
mixed-use wellness activities
water tracking
housing typologies
mixed-use
Relations diagram
retail trade water treatment
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How will we live together?
a citizen recognizes water as a common resource, not as his own
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
For working with water, first of all tools are needed that would allow the management. In this example, the water contention is showed, the strategy of containing the water is one of the most importants because with this water can be guide where it is needed depending of the specific purpose.
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How will we live together?
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a citizen lives in a diversified context LAND USE PUBLIC SPACE REGENERATION
COMMERCE AT GROUND LEVEL
hard SOFT
NEW HOUSING TYPOLOGIES INTERVENTIONS ON URBAN EMPTY SPACES
INFRASTRUCTURE
HOUSING ADAPTATION
MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS
LAND USE MODIFICATION
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
Diversifying the land and provide the city with services, retail, mixed uses and infrastructure. The diversity of land use must have spaces for transition, so that people have a smooth interaction with it, the use of land will provide and meet some needs of the city.
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How will we live together?
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a citizen takes an active role on MANTAINING the delicate balance he lives in ECOSYSTEM REFORESTATION
CITIZEN SCIENCE
hard SOFT ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY
TREE PLANTING
GREEN SPACE CONNECTIONS
Community management
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
Regenerating ecosystems in the nature reserve is the one of the main strategies. Having a natural reserve that actually it does not have anything, there are no trees, there is not an established wildlife, in this strategy, reforestation is the one showed.
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How will we live together?
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a citizen moves consciously within his city MOBILITY
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
hard
AWARENESS
CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE
SOFT ROAD REHABILITATION
INCENTIVES
IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSPOT
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
For our strategies to work together, they need to be connected by the right mobility. The streets are rehabilitated in a way that emphasizes the active role of the pedestrian in the city. The city must be walkable. We arranged a series of bicycle roads which adapt to the existing ones, connecting all together so the usage of the car is not the primary one.
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How will we live together?
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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How will we live together?
A corridor that works as a common place; where living together not only means to coexist with the immediate context, but with the envoronment and large scale concerns.
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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How will we live together?
nature can be an everyday experience
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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NATURE CAN BE AN EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE
Ecosystem
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How will we live together?
KNOWLEDGE CAN BE FOR EVERYONE
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
knowledge can be for everyone
Research
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How will we live together?
SELF SUFFICIENCY CAN BE ENJOYABLE
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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SELF SUFFICIENCY CAN BE ENJOYABLE
Housing
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How will we live together?
ARCHITECTURAL PROPOSAL Housing Plot of land: 875 m² Cos: 656 m² Cus: 2625 m² Ecosystem Plot of land: 10 000 m² Knowledge Plot of land: 10 000 m² Cus: 6 000 m²
Natural reserve as a catalyzer
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the city can be a
swing
AN EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE fOR EVERYONE ENJOYABLE