SELECTED WORKS
CRISTOBAL FLORES
Phone: +525533353893
Email: cristobalf24@gmail.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cff98
Portfolio
ABOUT ME
As an architect and urbanist from Universidad Iberoamericana, I have a passion for design and a keen interest in understanding how our cities function, and their relationship with the environment. Fluent in three languages, I have traveled and explored different cultures, which has allowed me to gain a more nuanced understanding of the world and the built environment’s role in shaping it. As a curious and hardworking architect, I am always eager to learn more and gain professional experience to make a positive impact in the built environment. I believe that architecture and urbanism can play a vital role in shaping the world’s future, and I am excited to be a part of it.
Based on “Roma Antica” (1757) by Giovanni Paolo Panini
This is a recollection of places I have seen and admired around the world. I’ve been fortunate to experience a diverse array of cultures and their unique architecture. Through these encounters, I’ve come to value how architecture serves as a reflection and preserver of cultural identity. Each building, structure, and design narrates a story about the society that created it, encompassing its history and values.
INDEX
URBAN OASIS
SCHAUB HOUSE
TORRES ADALID
DISTRITO HÍDRICO AZTECA
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PAGE 12
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PABELLON
2024 PAVILION / URBAN RESILIENCY
Alameda Central, Mexico City
Created using: Grasshopper Rhino D5 Render
MEXTROPOLI
In an Urban Oasis, a structure is proposed that combines aesthetic appeal with practical functionality, addressing environmental and community challenges in the city. In an environment dealing with significant issues like water scarcity and lack of public green spaces, this project emerges as a comprehensive solution by generating water, promoting biodiversity, fostering community engagement, and education.
In collaboration with Isla Urbana, a Mexican organization focused on innovative rainwater harvesting solutions in urban areas, Urban Oasis becomes a dynamic space hosting community meetings and offering educational activities for all ages, contributing to raising awareness and promoting responsible water management.
The proposal aims to utilize rainwater vertical collection and horizontal cloud condensation, creating a filtration system that nourishes the vegetation used in the pavilion. Materials like wood, brick, fabric, the Tlaloque filtration system, and a water tank for storage were employed.
Beyond ease of construction, our approach considers the project’s scalability, intending to replicate this model in various urban locations. By generating water and biodiversity in water-scarce areas, the goal is to drive positive environmental change and actively involve the community in addressing immediate challenges. Urban Oasis not only fosters a sense of responsibility and collective pride but also lays the groundwork for a more resilient and dynamic urban environment that harmoniously integrates with nature.
URBAN OASIS
RESIDENTIAL / DYNAMIC
1
This project was created for the Canadian artist, Callen Schaub. Drawing inspiration from his unconventional technique and innovative artistic process, the concept intricately reflects the rhythmic motion inherent in his work. In this design, circles assume a central role, emerging as the organizing method of his home & studio. The objective is to seamlessly transpose the fluid movement characterizing Schaub’s art into the very essence of this project.
SCHAUB HOUSE
2
TORRES ADALID 1018
For Constructora ITAI’s new offices in Colonia del Valle, Mexico City, we faced a unique challenge: designing a residential scheme adaptable for office use with minimal interior modifications. This approach facilitates construction commencement while awaiting any zoning adjustments.
Our design prioritized the land’s characteristics, considering limited options for the car elevator due to surrounding trees and a 30% construction-free terrain requirement. To optimize views, we placed the patio at the rear for natural lighting and cross ventilation. The entrance at the corner enhances the overall aesthetic appeal when viewed from the street.
Mexico City, Mexico
In the design process, we recognized that centralizing building services was crucial for seamlessly transitioning from residential to office space. This involved placing the elevator, staircase, and essential services in the building’s center. This configuration allowed us to create two main spaces that could be subdivided effortlessly without the need to relocate installations and building systems.
The finished structure is a 4-story building with versatile functionality. It comprises either four 60-square-meter apartments and one 140-square-meter apartment or can be configured as two 60-square-meter office spaces for coworking or divided into four separate office spaces. This adaptable design enables the building to flexibly respond to the evolving market demands in Mexico City.
DISTRITO HÍDRICO AZTECA
Mexico, in collaboration with the US and Canada, is slated to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, presenting a significant opportunity for the country. Beyond showcasing its passion for soccer, this event offers a platform to highlight Mexico’s rich history, vibrant culture, innovation, and urban resilience. The Distrito Hídrico Azteca project aims to seamlessly integrate all these elements while addressing the pressing water challenges faced by the city.
The project envisions creating public spaces with wetlands capable of puritying black water from neighboring neighborhoods and treating rainwater during the rainy months. Apart from serving as an ideal venue for the World Cup, the project plays a crucial role in addressing the city’s long-term water challenges. Its development was made possible through the use of data from the Mexican Government and advanced software tools such as Grasshopper and Rhino.
WATER SITUATION IN MEXICO CITY
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
URBANISM / RESILIENCE / SUSTAINABILITY
ESTADIO AZTECA, MEXICO CITY
This research initiative delves into various water challenges, seeking to understand the root causes of city subsidence, water shortages, and flooding triggered by heavy rainfall. Covering aspects like Hydrology, Geology, topography, the water supply chain in Mexico City, Mobility, and water shortages, the project responds to the alarming projection of a severe water shortage in the city by 2050. It focuses on implementing hydric infrastructure to address immediate concerns and contribute to the city’s overall
GOAL
The Distrito Hídrico Azteca project emerged from a comprehensive exploration of water management strategies in Mexico City.
Tailoring solutions to 48 public spaces within the Micro Cuenca Azteca, including parks, school patios, streets, and parking lots, our approach recognizes the diverse factors influencing these strategies, such as soil composition and urban context.
With a belief in the power of collective, small-scale projects to address the city’s water crisis, Distrito Hidrico Azteca takes center stage in our World Cup proposal. The design integrates wetlands to treat wastewater from neighboring areas lacking drainage connections.
PUBLIC SPACE + WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Simultaneously, these wetlands harvest rainwater, creating a versatile public space that serves as both a park and essential water infrastructure for the city.
Our design process combines geographical insights from INEGIs Escorrentias data and Grasshopper water simulations, ensuring practical alignment with the city’s natural water dynamics.
GRASSHOPPER USAGE
Mathematical principles, including Voronoi diagrams, further refine the project, enhancing both functionality and visual appeal. This approach, grounded in real-world considerations, underscores the project’s commitment to a sustainable and resilient future for Mexico City.
This model serves as a crucial tool for analyzing our work area, offering a topographic representation with a layer every 8 meters. On the left, the grey cardboard material represents the volcanic rock in Ciudad Universitaria, while on the right, the beige material indicates the location of the ancient lake bed. Understanding the distinct behaviors of water in these different sediment types and volcanic rock is crucial due to variations in permeability.
The blue areas on the model correspond to each of the 48 locations discussed in our project. Additionally, above, the beige areas represent recent runoff, mapped by INEGI, illustrating the directions in which water flows within the city. This comprehensive analysis informs our project, allowing us to tailor water management strategies to the specific geological composition of the area for a more effective and sustainable approach.
The model was created using Rhino, Grasshopper, and Mosquito.
ZONE 1 - PRE TREATMENT
Zone 1, situated in the eastern section and adjacent to Point B, the entry point for wastewater, was initially an open space adorned with numerous trees. Efforts have been made to preserve this area, respecting its natural vegetation. It now houses the pretreatment and initial treatment facilities for wastewater. The primary treatment process includes stages of sedimentation, separation of fats, and filtration, each with distinct strategies tailored to the irregular topography of the higher elevations.
Preserving the original vegetation in Zone 1 not only enhances the area’s aesthetic appeal but also serves ecological purposes. Native trees such as Jacaranda mimosifolia, Tabebuia rosea, and Plumeria rubra are strategically planted to promote biodiversity. These choices offer shade, visual interest, and support local fauna, contributing to the overall sustainability of the project.
ZONE 2 - SECONDARY TREATMENT + PUBLIC SPACE
This central area strategically initiates secondary wastewater treatment associated with Point B. Given Mexico City’s heavy rainy season from May to October, with peak rainfall in June, August, and September, effective rainwater management is crucial. In response, the zone not only focuses on secondary wastewater treatment but also emphasizes rainwater handling and containment.
The area features subsurface wetlands where water is purified as it flows through filtering materials and plants. Artificial surface wetlands, inspired by natural processes, further enhance this purification. Additionally, strategically placed public courts serve as both recreational spaces and rainwater collection points.
Situated at the low points of the terrain, the public courts collect rainwater during the heavy rainy season, serving various purposes within the project, such as flushing toilets, cleaning, and watering the diverse array of plants. This sustainable water management strategy not only contributes to project efficiency but aligns with environmental and resource-conscious principles.
ZONE 3 - BUILDING SERVICES
This project area serves as the primary entrances to the park and stadium, directly connected to the street on both the north and south sides. It features floodable squares, public restrooms, washbasins, and water-collecting towers, focusing on rainwater management, given their high foot traffic.
In Zone 4, the water entry point (Point C) houses various businesses and is a bustling hub, notably the insurgentes sur access square to the stadium. The conceptualization of these spaces goes beyond providing programs for the community near Estadio Azteca during the World Cup; it also prioritizes contributing to water purification. Each constructed area works with water, starting with a capturing tower for purification and utilizing watercollecting roofs to supply building services.
These areas operate as a sequence, guiding water flow and purification, concluding in a floodable square and, ultimately, in the wetlands.
DISTRITO HÍDRICO AZTECA
We firmly believe that water is indispensable for life, particularly within the context of a city. The development of this project represents a transformation of the Estadio Azteca area, turning an arid concrete parking lot into an urban park primarily focused on innovative water infrastructure in a city that urgently needs to redefine its relationship with water. While this project may be modest in scale compared to the broader challenge of addressing the water crisis in Mexico City, it stands as a compelling showcase to the world. It demonstrates Mexico’s commitment to enhancing urban resiliency and estableshing itself as an innovative city in solving the water crisis.
CRISTOBAL FLORES
Phone: +525533353893
Email: cristobalf24@gmail.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cff98