Architecture has the power to transform not only physical spaces but also the social, cultural, and health dynamics of a community. This project is based on the concept of foodscapes, understood as food-related landscapes that integrate the built environment, eating practices, and the social relationships woven around food.}
In a global context marked by diseases linked to poor nutrition, urban isolation, and the loss of community bonds, it becomes urgent to rethink how spaces can become active agents of health and well-being. This project proposes an architectural system that goes beyond providing infrastructure — one that creates opportunities to grow, prepare, share, and learn about healthy food within a collective environment.
THE OFFICIAL DAY ZERO for water in México will be is 2028
HALF OF ALL CHILDREN in Mexico will suffer from obesity by 2035
By 2050, THERE WILL BE NOT ENOUGH FOOD to be produced to meet demand.
TO ANALYZE IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS CHAPTER
Food Oasis
Food Swamps
Convenience stores
Distrito Qro
The Distrito Qro initiative is located in a key area of the city. There is a significant opportunity for local food production, due to the influx of food both within and outside the district. Additionally, there is great potential for development related to convenience stores, as the district already has a strong presence of them.
Barrio Vivo
Industrial Zone
Universities
Flooding area
Distrito Qro
Main roads
Site Analysis-Generalities
The site is surrounded by several barriers. The most significant is the industrial zone, which is not designed for pedestrian use. In contrast, the residential area is more walkable, although it takes at least 10 minutes to walk 500 meters, indicating poor walkability. The site is strategically located between the universities involved in the Distrito Qro initiative and also benefits from good connectivity to the city’s main roads. However, a potential threat is the risk of flooding.
Site Analysis-Generalities
Barrio Vivo
Industrial Zone
Universities Flooding area
Distrito Qro
Main roads
Site Analysis-Generalities
The site is surrounded by traditional neighborhoods, offering a strong opportunity for community integration. Located between residential and industrial zones, it serves as a potential link between the two. However, its location in a flood-prone area presents a challenge that can be addressed through landscape strategies.
Barrio Vivo
The manifesto grounds our project in purpose. It reminds us to prioritize circularity, accessible healthy food, and learning as a tool for change. Above all, it centers water as a vital resource, guiding every decision toward sustainability and collective well-being.
MORE THAN LANDA PLACE OF POSSIBILITY
CHAPTER 2
Favrholm Conference Center
Copenhagen, Denmark
Architect: seARCH
Year: 2011
The project uses contrast as a solution to the challenge of creating a new architectural language that can coexist with the existing building.
Cuscatlán Park
San Salvador, El Salvador
Architects: FABRICA
Year: 2019
Thanks to the large area of the property, an elevated path can be created via a bridge that allows for a curved experience throughout the park.
Shanghai, China
Architects: Turenscape
Year: 2009
Conceived as a regenerative living landscape, the use of wetlands allows for natural water treatment and creates aquatic landscapes that coexist with terrestrial plants.
Houtan Park
Wellness Center
Monterrey, México
Architect: José Luis Graue
Year: 2021
As part of the sports center, the gardens surrounding the main building utilize slopes and vegetation at different heights and arrangements to create nonlinear paths and accommodate secondary spaces.
A SITE OF INDUSTRY
Our site is located in today’s industry Aga, a bottling industry, and a vacant lot that belongs to Gerder, right on Epigmenio Gonzalez. The site is surrounded by various industrial spaces, making it a high commercial ground.
In a study made by a past team working on a similar site, we have gathered information of vacating industries, based on the impact it poses to the growth of the city, both the inefficiency of environmental practices and space of land, making Aga and Gerber more likely to be vacating industries.
Vacating industries
Evolving industries
GERBER VACANT LOT
PEDESTRIAN BARRIERS
One of the biggest challenges in the area of our site are the massive and repetitive pedestrian barriers caused by industrial sites, drastically clashing with a residential zone with high population density such as the traditional neighborhoods in the area, limiting walkability to the main road. The barriers and their accessibility are limited to mostly vehicular transit, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk under the scorching sun of Querétaro. The lack of vegetation and wide sidewalks is evident, something we experience while walking on site.
SPACE OF CITIZEN ACTIVATION
So we pose the immediate questioning of transforming the space into something more pleasant for transit. We begin by opening up the entire facade that is facing residential areas, inviting anyone going from and about their homes, workplaces or just crossing to reach public transport in 5 de febrero.
Just the act of removing the physical barriers of the site already create a change in the dynamic of the street, the residential areas and even the industrial space, strategically located on one of the busiest connections of the city.
DEMOLITION AND USE OF MATERIAL
DEMOLITION OF EDIFICATIONS
DEPAVING AND REINSTITUTING NATURE
LARGE CONCRETE AREAS
REUTILIZATION OF DEBRIS
CREATION OF GAVIONS
GREEN SPACES
The site today has existing vegetation and green areas. These existing trees and plants are crucial living spaces that can be expanded and harnessed for use in the project. All existing trees will be respected in the design and construction process, using them as starting points for landscaping.
The expansion of these green areas will be made and nurtured to break down the existing concrete through the before method mentioned of depaving. The vacant lot, that is burned down by the industry for low maintenance, will be revived and slowly flourished to be able to sustain vegetation through biochar and refertilization methods that will be mentioned in the next pages.
TOPOGRAPHY AND WATER
As shown in the analysis, the residential areas are very prone to flooding during the rainy season, making it a more dangerous situation for residents of these neighborhoods. That is why modifying the topography to take advantage of this current situation is an important technical part of the project, as well as of its landscaping.
One of the corners of the terrain, as shown above, is right on the flooding areas. By excavating we can create a water reserve as a flooding park preventing extreme flooding in the adjoining residences. This depression of the land will function not only as a flooding precaution but also as a semi artificial wetland, used to clean polluted water from flooding, grey water on site and any rain it captures.
Continuing with the landscape language and nature of circulations to edifications, other topographical changes were implemented, into sunken production gardens, making the process of food production visibly available to users while keeping them safe.
EXTRUSION AND NEW EDIFICATIONS
The site today has existing vegetation and green areas. These existing We decided to maintain the current industrial unit that exists on site, it being a very versatile structure, transformed into a double layer with smaller edification inside. Following this unit as a module, we abstracted the form into its both sides, using the gable roof and its inclination as the main reference.
The roofing on the existing structure was modified to allow light in certain places, and even water and other elements through others, making the interaction between the inside and the outside more linked together. The extruded structures to both sides of the unit have different purposes.
The main site is located to the right of the unit, on the main connected corner. This shape, apart from being based on the gable roof, was thought to be the main edification for interaction. The structure curves to open up space in an inviting manner, making it a main entrance to explore the rest of the project and site, making the citizen activation more prevalent. The other side of the unit is a more private and quiet space, made to mirror the gesture in the project’s main corner.
CIRCULATIONS AND CONNECTION
It is crucial in this project to identify and exploit connections between different edification and parts of the entire site, it being a big scaled project. In consideration of no only walkability but also the user experience a series of elevated platforms were designed. This wood structure connects the main edifications through the upper levels, and also provides a different perspective on the entire site and the programmatic activities it provides. This also allows for a more open floor plan in the corner building, allowing the permeability and accessibility desired for this project.
ATMOSFERICWATERCOLECTION
SUPPORTING
SYSTEMS
This project is divided into four main systems, functioning as a whole to guarantee the living community placed as the center. The water system, as the provider of life and production. This production system is divided into different aspects amongst the site for its functionality. The ecosystem is the main connection of all species. And lastly the welfare system, connecting the community to this new space.
PLUVIAL WATER COLLECTION
Water is recollected through the roofing of the unit and the new building. The annual precipitation on Querétaro is about 648mm, with the main rainy season being between the months of June and October. The roofing, with its 5,000m2 can recollect up to 3,000,00L of water, with our tank system we can store about 100,000L at a time, making it a good storage for irrigation. This water goes through a minimal filtering process, guaranteeing no solid elements are stored. The filtration system, Tlaloque, is safeproofed for irrigation water, which provides enough cleansing without taking any minerals out that might benefit production.
ROOFING PANELS
The new implemented roofing is made from special panels called panel sandwich, which include the roof sheet as normal roofing, and an extra insulation layer that makes the space more agreeable to the extreme heats of Querétaro. These panels are collocated over the existing structure, bolted down to the steel idlers.
ATMOSPHERIC WATER COLLECTION
Atmospheric water collection is based on the recollection of water through thin air. This method of water recollection is very effective in areas where rain is minimal and humidity is high through the night. A semidesert like Querétaro is a good implementing spot for this technology. Although the weather conditions don’t guarantee a giant surplus of water through this method, it still takes advantage of water in the environment with minimal maintenance. It also serves as a clear visual example of different methods of recollection. These membranes of 10.90 meters by 5 meters recollect the water through a condensation of droplets then dropped through gravity to a canal for collection.
With a total of about 380m2 of membranes and an estimated recollection of 0.10L of water per day per square meter, we can recollect up to 13,870L a year. This amount of water cannot sustain large amounts of land, so any and all recollection will be implemented in vertical gardens, for which water is more gauged and leveled.
VISUALIZATION
The membranes also allow for a visual aspect in our main corridor, providing a clear visual and educational aspect to the system. It also creates a more cheap and natural separation of the inside and outside of the unit. It provides the inside with shade from the south sun, while still allowing air and elements inside.
WETLAND CLEANING SYSTEM
The wetland functions as a cleaning method for water. This method uses compost bathrooms that divide liquid and solid waste. To help the wetland to work we have implemented a hybrid system, where a treatment plant provides an initial filtration of the grey waters used in all the site, and lets the wetland provide the ultimate cleaning. In the rainy season this wetland will be permanently full, being an anti-flood precaution. For the rest of the year this will prevail as a space that cleans water from the site, as well as a spot of vegetation flourishing.
Air and vapor condense into water
GREENHOUSE
Pipes carry water towards the greenhouse for irrigation
Our greenhouse covers 640 square meters and absorbs 2.56 tons of CO2 per year. This helps reduce our carbon footprint, improves air quality, and supports a more sustainable environment by capturing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
Vertical garden spans 186 square meters and captures 0.7 tons of CO2 annually. They help regulate temperature, and with atmospheric condensation irrigation we are using, they use minimal water, making them an efficient and sustainable solution for food production.
Arugula
Chard
Parsley
Beet Greens
SUNKEN GARDENS
Sunken garden spans 360 square meters and captures 1.4 tons of CO2 annually. Improving air quality, while creating contemplation spaces.
Wetland Treatment plant
Pump
Suken Garden beds Spring
Zucchini
Jalapeño Autumn
Swiss Chard
Radish Winter Carrot
Lettuce
MEDICINAL GARDENS
Medicinal gardens are a powerful tool for hands-on learning and natural wellness. Used in workshops, they offer participants the chance to explore the traditional knowledge of healing plants — how to grow them, prepare them, and use them safely. These gardens encourage a deeper connection with nature and promote sustainable, plant-based approaches to health.
Beyond their educational value, medicinal gardens also serve as a key element in space design and ambiance.
Raised garden beds cover 16 square meters and capture 64 kg of CO2 per year, they are highly effective because they offer better soil control, improved drainage, and greater protection against pests and weeds. Each bed includes its own atmospheric condensation irrigation system, ensuring water-efficient cultivation even in dry climates like Querétaro’s.
APIARY
6 Hives
Each hive houses between 30,000 and 50,000 bees.
6 hives can support a total of 180,000 to 300,000 bees.
Estimated Honey Production
A healthy hive can produce between 20 and 30 kg (44–66 lbs) of honey per year.
6 hives can yield approximately 120 to 180 kg (264–396 lbs) of honey annually.
BENEFITS
Natural pollination for gardens and crops, increasing yields of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Boosts biodiversity by supporting other beneficial species.
Educational opportunities through beekeeping workshops and awareness of pollinator conservation.
CHICKEN COOP
Estimated Egg Production
A healthy hen lays approximately 5 to 6 eggs per week.
This equals around 20 to 25 eggs per month per hen.
Total for 30 hens:
600 to 750 eggs per week
2,400 to 3,000 eggs per month
28,800 to 36,000 eggs per year
BENEFITS OF RAISING CHICKENS IN YOUR PROJECT
Fresh, local, and nutritious eggs available year-round.
Natural fertilizer from chicken manure to enrich garden soil.
Pest control: chickens eat insects, reducing the need for pesticides.
CRICKET PRODUCTION
Estimated Food Output
10,000 crickets ≈ 1.2–1.5 kg of edible protein
This provides about:
60–75 grams of protein
Equivalent to the protein in 20–25 eggs or 2–3 chicken breasts.
Can be processed into:
Cricket flour (used in protein bars, tortillas, or baked goods)
Whole dried crickets (snacks or food topping)
BENEFITS
High-protein, low-impact food source – sustainable alternative to traditional meat.
Requires 80–90% less land and water than cattle or poultry farming.
Produces very low greenhouse gas emissions.
Fast production cycle – crickets are harvest-ready in 5–6 weeks.
BIOCHAR AND COMPOSTING SYSTEM
We process 12.5 tons of organic waste per year, including forage residues, food waste, organic matter, and convenience store discards (e.g., from OXXOs). From this, we produce 5 tons of biochar annually, based on a conversion rate of 400 kg of biochar per ton of waste.
Each ton of biochar absorbs 2.35 tons of CO2, resulting in an annual carbon capture of 11.75 tons of CO2 from biochar production alone.
In addition, our composting process contributes to climate action by absorbing 4.5 tons of CO2 per year.
TOTAL IMPACT
CO2 absorbed annually: 16.25 tons
his circular approach reduces emissions, regenerates soil, and turns waste into valuable resources — making our system both sustainable and restorative.
ENERGY
We estimate an annual energy consumption of 30,000 kWh. To achieve full energy independence, we would need 40 solar panels, based on the average production capacity per panel.
However, we propose installing 135 solar panels, which would generate approximately 105,000 kWh per year. This not only ensures our energy autonomy but also allows us to contribute energy back to the grid.
Through this system alone, we would be able to offset 22 tons of CO2 annually, making solar energy a key component of our commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.
6 Hives produce honey and pollinitation
30 chickens provide eggs and natural tetillizer
Produces 5ton/ year, capturing 11.75 tons of CO2 anunually
CIRCULAR PRODUCTION SYSTEM
135 Solar panels generate 105.000 kWh/year.
Grows fresh produce using multiple irrigation methods
Produces 10.000 crikets per month as a sustainable protein source
-Provides shade, shelter, and food for birds and insects
Salvia Salviagreggii
-Extended flowering period
-Natural biological control
-Source of food
Muhlygrass Muhlenbergiacapillaris
-Thermal regulation
-Moisture capture
-Require little water and maintenance
Gaillardia Gaillardiapulchella
-Drought-resistant
-Erosion control
-Supports biodiversity
Spider Agave Agave bracteosa
-Longeva -No tiene espinas
-Natural relaxant
-Showy and prolonged flowering
-Adds color, texture, and fragrance
-Nitrogen fixer
-Provides natural shade and shelter
-Prevents erosion
-Carbon capture
-Support for wildlife
-Improves water infiltration
Lavender Lavandula
Palo Fierro Tree Olneyatesota
Deer Tail Muhlenbergiarigens
POLLINATOR OASIS
Sweet wand Eysenhardtiatexana
- Produces fragrant white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity.
-The corms can be boiled, fried, mashed, or used in soups and stews, similar to potatoes or yams.
-Helps increase humidity in the surrounding air through transpiration
-Its elegant form makes it a popular choice for borders, screens, and accent plantings.
-Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and beneficial insects
Mouse ear
Coccoloba diversifolia
-Produces small purple fruits eaten by birds (especially pigeons)
-Adaptable and hardy with minimal care needs, suitable for urban landscaping.
-Effective natural windbreak or privacy screen in gardens.
-The dense root system helps stabilize soil, making it useful on slopes or areas prone to erosion.
-Its root system helps stabilize sandy or degraded soils, preventing erosion.
-Grows well in containers, rock gardens, borders, and a variety of soils
-Pollinator attraction
-High drought tolerance
-Long-lasting and colorful blooming
Wild taro Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Ornamental banana Musabasjoo
African elephant ear Alocasia odora
Miscanthus Miscanthus sinensis
Stipa Nassellatenuissima
Salvia Salviaornamental
WILD OASIS
WILD OASIS
Small tule Schoenoplectus americanus
- Excellent for wetland restoration projects, helping to reestablish native plant communities in marshes, ponds, and estuaries.
Albizia (silk tree)
Albiziajulibrissin
-Flowers attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, adding life and color to landscapes.
Rushes
Juncus effusus
-The corms can be boiled, fried, mashed, or used in soups and stews, similar to potatoes or yams.
Dwarf sedges
Cyperusalternifolius ‘Gracilis’
-Can be grown as a marginal aquatic plant, helping create naturalistic water landscapes.
Sagittaria Sagittarialatifolia
-Its dense growth helps create complex habitats that support biodiversity.
Water lily Nymphaeamexicana
-Its root system helps stabilize sandy or degraded soils, preventing erosion.
-Grows well in containers, rock gardens, borders, and a variety of soils
Ornamental banana Musabasjoo
-Effective natural windbreak or privacy screen in gardens.
-The dense root system helps stabilize soil, making it useful on slopes or areas prone to erosion.
AQUATIC OASIS
ANIMALS
Bees
Chickens
Hummingbirds
Lizards
Scorpions Small frogs Small migratory birds Butterflies
Dogs Cats
Mice Sparrows
ANIMALS
Compacted Soil (Tepetate)
The natural composition of tepetate contributes to soil stability and helps minimize land degradation, by balancing strength and permeability, making it a valuable asset for ensuring environmental resilience and long-term durability.
Gravel
Contributes to soil stability by providing a durable, yet flexible surface that resists erosion and supports structural loads. Its use helps minimize land degradation and complements the natural composition of the site’s soils.
Ground covers form a dense, low-growing layer of vegetation that effectively protects soil from erosion by cushioning the impact of rain and wind. Their ability to retain soil moisture helps reduce irrigation needs.
By repurposing existing concrete structures, we reduce the need for new materials, lower our carbon footprint, and give value to what already exists. Instead of removing or covering it, we allow the concrete to weather, crack, and break down naturally over time.
Effective solution for combining surface durability with environmental permeability. By allowing vegetation to grow within a load-bearing grid system, they promote natural infiltration of rainwater, reducing runoff and enhancing groundwater recharge.
Paver
Musabasjoo
Stable, non-slip surface that ensures safe circulation for pedestrians. Their modular design allows for easy maintenance, while their permeability supports natural rainwater infiltration, reducing runoff and protecting surrounding vegetation.
Wood
Grasslands, whether natural or restored, play a vital role in recovering degraded soils and enhancing biodiversity. They provide essential habitat for pollinating insects and birds, contributing to a balanced ecosystem.
Wood brings warmth, texture, and a natural rhythm that softens architectural lines and helps blend built structures with the surrounding environment.
Grass paver
Ground Cover
Concrete Grassland
SENSORY ASPECTS OF OASES
Coexistance
Designed with biodiversity and openness in mind allow humans and animals alike to share space harmoniously. Pets can interact safely with natural elements
Textures
Textures play a crucial role in how we perceive and emotionally connect with the space. Adding visual richness, but also engage our senses.
Sensations
Rain gardens, vegetation and permeable soil layers, help reduce surface temperatures, increase humidity, and soften the harshness of paved surroundings.
Colors
Landscape designed to evoke specific moods, it’s a vibrant, dynamic garden that invites exploration and encourages stillness and reflection.
Sounds
Activate the senses and give life to the place through sounds helps to create a welcoming atmosphere, marking areas of activity, rest, and transition.
SENSORY ASPECTS OF OASES
Cognitive development
Stimulate the brain through multisensory experiences. Activities such as exploring, observing insects, and playing with natural materials enhance neural connections.
Pleasant environment
Trees create inviting microclimates where pedestrians can rest, socialize, or simply pass through without the physical strain of direct sun exposure.
Emotional well-being
Birdsong can soothe stress, promote relaxation, and enhance mindfulness.
Contemplation
Contemplative spaces that stimulate mental peace and tranquility
Interconnectedness of life
Creating living models where people can observe how coexistence between humans, animals, and plants fosters sustainability.
SENSORY ASPECTS OF OASES
Interaction
The informality of wild vegetation breaks down social barriers, encouraging casual interaction and slowing the pace of movement and conversation.
Pleasant environment
Trees create inviting microclimates where pedestrians can rest, socialize, or simply pass through without the physical strain of direct sun exposure.
Environmental awareness
Promotes how different species behave—how some plants retain water, how others attract pollinators, or how native species adapt to the climate.
Biodiverstiy
Informational signage or guided experiences can explain the origin, adaptation, and ecological role of each species, fostering deeper ecological awareness and curiosity.
Interconnectedness of life
Creating living models where people can observe how coexistence between humans, animals, and plants fosters sustainability.
SENSORY ASPECTS OF OASES
Visible seasonality
Where people can observe the life stages of plants: germination, flowering, withering, and rebirth.
or wonder.
Introspection
Invite people to look inward while observing the life around them.
Human interaction
People may feel as part of an ecosystem, not as external observers, but as another element within the balance.
Ecological processes
Understanding complex ecological processes in an intuitive and emotional way, making any later learning more meaningful.
CO-LIVING SPACES
This building is designed to offer users a free, flexible, and adaptable experience that responds to the diverse rhythms of urban life. The ground level features an open floor plan that accommodates commercial spaces, encouraging economic activity and creating a lively public interface. This area invites both residents and visitors to engage with the building as an active part of the neighborhood’s daily life.
Above the commercial level, the first floor is dedicated to amenities and workshop spaces. These areas serve as hubs for community interaction, skill-building, and leisure, enhancing the quality of life for residents while fostering a sense of shared purpose and collaboration.
Whether for informal gatherings, organized classes, or individual work, these spaces are designed to be welcoming and multifunctional. The upper two floors are entirely residential, offering a range of unit typologies that cater to different household structures and living preferences. Each unit is conceived as a modular space, drawing from the proportions and logic of the original industrial structure. This modularity allows for various configurations and degrees of privacy, enabling residents to shape their environments according to their specific needs over time. The result is a living environment that is not only efficient and sustainable but also deeply human and responsive.
TYPOLOGY 1: APARTMENT
The first residential typology is a horizontally oriented living unit, thoughtfully composed of two interconnected modules. This layout is designed to maximize comfort, spatial efficiency, and a strong relationship with nature. One module contains the private areas: three well-proportioned bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a convenient half bathroom to serve guests or shared living scenarios. The second module houses the social and communal spaces, including an open kitchen, a spacious living and dining area, and an exterior terrace that extends the living experience outdoors. Both modules are organized around and oriented toward a central shared green space, an internal garden or “green nook”, which serves as the visual and emotional heart of the unit.
This verdant core creates a calming atmosphere, bringing natural light, ventilation, and a sense of tranquility into the home. It acts as a buffer between the two modules while maintaining visual continuity and a seamless spatial flow.
The primary aim of this typology is to provide a living experience that feels closely connected to nature, even within a dense urban context. At the same time, it maintains the efficiency and logic of a single-floor layout, offering a well-balanced distribution of private and public spaces. The result is a home that is not only functional and adaptable but also emotionally resonant, a space that supports both retreat and connection.
TYPOLOGY 2: LOFT
The second typology presents a more compact and minimalist living solution, efficiently organized within a single module. It includes a bedroom, a full bathroom, a kitchenette, a small living area, and a private terrace, all carefully arranged to maximize usability within a reduced footprint. Despite its scale, the unit maintains a sense of comfort and functionality, catering specifically to the needs of individual users such as students, young professionals, or visiting researchers. This typology responds directly to the broader vision of Distrito Qro, which emphasizes education and innovation as key pillars of the site’s identity.
As such, providing accessible and well-designed housing options for students is not only practical but essential to supporting the site’s academic and intellectual ecosystem. Additionally, the unit’s compact layout and flexible design make it ideal for temporary stays, offering a dignified and welcoming accommodation option for short-term visitors and investigators engaged with local institutions or research initiatives. Unlike the first typology, which features a private green space, this singlemodule unit shares a central green nook with its adjacent residence. This shared green area serves as a small oasis of nature within the built environment, fostering visual openness, passive ventilation, and moments of informal interaction between neighbors.
TYPOLOGY 3: DUPLEX
The third typology explores a vertical living arrangement, composed of two stacked modules that create a clear separation between social and private functions. This vertical configuration offers a dynamic spatial experience, maximizing the use of volume rather than horizontal surface, and providing a sense of privacy and spatial hierarchy within a compact footprint.
On the ground floor, the layout includes the main social spaces: an open kitchen, a comfortable living and dining area, a half bathroom for guests, and a compact office or study nook cleverly integrated beneath the staircase. This level is designed to foster interaction, work, and daily routines, all while maintaining a fluid connection to the central green nook, which is shared with neighboring units.
This visual and spatial connection to nature enhances the atmosphere and brings in natural light and ventilation. The upper level contains the private areas, including two well-sized bedrooms and two full bathrooms. This arrangement allows for both personal retreat and shared living, making it suitable for small families, roommates, or couples. The double-height ceiling over the living area below adds a sense of spaciousness and openness, creating a pleasant and airy interior environment that contrasts with the compact footprint. By stacking functions vertically, this typology offers an efficient and flexible solution for urban housing while preserving a strong connection to communal green space. It balances density with livability, providing a unique option within the broader residential system
SHARED CO-LIVING
The entire first floor is dedicated to shared amenities, creating a space for both interaction and relaxation within the residential building. This level includes co-working areas, game rooms, and workshops, encouraging creativity, productivity, and community engagement. At the heart of the floor plan is a botanical consultory, an indoor garden filled with medicinal plants used for crafting natural health products, which residents can either make themselves or purchase. This lush green space not only offers a peaceful environment for users to unwind, but also supports biodiversity by attracting pollinators, reinforcing the building’s connection to nature and well-being.
OPEN FLOOR PLAN
The open floor plan serves two primary objectives, both essential to the functioning and identity of the overall project. The first is to act as a transitional threshold, an open, welcoming space that functions as a kind of pre-entry to the entire complex. For this reason, the decision to keep it fully accessible at all times was fundamental. Its openness invites movement, pause, and gathering, blurring the boundaries between public and semi-public space.
The second objective is the commercial and social activation of a highly strategic corner of the site. As previously emphasized, this zone holds particular significance due to its strong connections to the surrounding urban fabric.
The layout responds to this by incorporating flexible commercial uses and interactive public space, all set within a softscape of pastureland that encourages people to linger, gather, and engage. Benches, green surfaces, and shaded areas make it a comfortable and vibrant place for daily activity.
Anchoring this area is the first of the reimagined convenience stores, a key element in the project’s broader strategy to redefine local commerce through healthier, community-oriented retail. This space acts not only as a point of sale but also as a social and environmental connector, setting the tone for the new values that guide the development.
CONNECTION AND EDUCATION
The bridge is designed not only as a functional connector, but as an experiential element that weaves together the different areas of the site from an entirely new perspective. Elevated above the ground, it offers a continuous path that follows the project’s core elements, tracing the flow of food production, water management, and ecological systems. In doing so, it allows users to visually engage with the processes that define the site, creating a deeper understanding of how everything is interconnected. Beyond its role as circulation infrastructure, the bridge is also a space for reflection, interaction, and play. Along the way, it offers moments for pause and contemplation, framing views of the greenhouses, gardens, and natural habitats below.
Strategically widened areas become informal gathering spots, while playful design elements invite exploration, especially for children. In this way, the bridge becomes more than a path, it becomes an elevated journey through the values and systems of the project itself.
INDUSTRIAL UNIT: OFFICES
Connected directly to the bridge, the administrative core of the project is housed within the original industrial unit. These offices are designed to support the daily operations of the site and are intended for use by volunteers, staff, and other personnel responsible for maintaining and managing the space. Functionally integrated yet spatially distinct, this area ensures that the project remains organized, supported, and responsive to the evolving needs of the community it serves.
INDUSTRIAL UNIT: TRANSFORMATION OF SPACE
The main floor of the industrial unit has been thoughtfully reprogrammed to host a diverse and dynamic set of functions, inserting smaller structures within the vast volume of the existing building. This adaptive reuse approach not only preserves the industrial character of the space but also transforms it into a hub for community engagement, education, and ecological awareness.
Organized from left to right, the layout begins with composting bathrooms, carefully designed to separate liquid and solid waste, promoting sustainable sanitation practices and resource recovery.
Adjacent to them are a series of flexible workshops, intended for hands-on learning in areas such as building personalized food production systems, gardening techniques, and cooking with locally grown ingredients. Continuing through the space, visitors encounter the biochar production plant, previously detailed, which plays a key role in soil regeneration and carbon sequestration. Beyond it, an urban art gallery provides a platform for local expression, tying back to the cultural identity of the surrounding community. This space flows naturally into a central forum—an open area designed for group activities, educational talks, performances, and informal gatherings, creating a social heart within the building.
Finally, the sequence culminates in a series of greenhouses, where food is grown year-round and visitors can directly observe, participate in, and learn from sustainable agricultural practices. Together, these components form a cohesive ecosystem within the industrial shell—one where architecture, ecology, and community intersect. The entire building becomes a living classroom, a space for experimentation, exchange, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with nature.
EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY
Recognizing and embracing the existing identity of a community is essential to creating meaningful architecture. In this case, we began by closely studying the surrounding neighborhoods and public spaces, uncovering a recurring element that defines much of Distrito Qro’s character: urban art. From murals in alleys to painted walls on schools and buildings, street art is a powerful form of expression that reflects the voices, struggles, and creativity of the local population.
Rather than overlook this cultural layer, the project seeks to celebrate and amplify it. We’ve designated a specific area as a living canvas, walls intentionally left open for intervention, where local artists and residents can paint, mark, and transform the space freely.
This ever-evolving gallery of urban art is not static; it is meant to be repainted, added to, and reimagined over time, offering a platform for continuous expression. In doing so, the project acknowledges the community’s visual language and allows it to become an integral and dynamic part of the architectural narrative.
THE CITY IS BUILT IN NETWORKS, NOT FRAGMENTS
CHAPTER 3
PRODUCTION IN NEIGHBORHOODS
Recognizing and embracing the existing identity of a community is essential A key part of the network’s implementation involves extending the knowledge and practices developed at the main site into the homes of the surrounding neighborhood. This decentralization fosters greater food autonomy, encourages trade between neighbors, and contributes to a greener, more self-sustaining community. To support this, we conducted a study of four main housing typologies in the area, each offering different amounts of free outdoor space suitable for food production. Based on the available square meters in each typology, we developed three simple and adaptable production scales. These systems are designed to accommodate varying capacities and needs
COLECTIVE HOUSING
10M2 FOR PRODUCTION
10KG OF FOOD MONTHLY
COMMERCE
5M2 FOR PRODUCTION
5KG OF FOOD MONTHLY
MIXED USED HOUSING
20M2 FOR PRODUCTION
10-25KG OF FOOD MONTHLY
TWO STORY HOUSING
20M2 FOR PRODUCTION
25KG OF FOOD MONTHLY
How far will we let the crisis go before we redesign our routines and our priorities? Let’s start by redesigning our spaces.
Convenience Stores in the District
The concept of convenience stores is reimagined—not as we currently know them, but as green spaces that function as small hubs. These spaces allow people to learn, buy, and exchange products grown both in the hub and in the homes of nearby community members. The goal is not only to foster a sense of community through interaction, but also to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, improve daily nutritional health by making fresh food more accessible, and raise awareness about the waste we generate—by transforming it into reusable resources at these communal gathering points.
Typology 2
Typology 1
Befenit
LUCÍA (33)
MOTHER, HOUSEWIFE, PLANT ENTHUSIAST
VALERIA AND SOFÍA (9 AND 11)
SISTERS, STUDENTS, ACTIVE IMAGINATORS
RICARDO (25)
WORKER, JUST GRADUATED, TECH SAVY
LUCÍA (33)
Lucía is a woman with a natural talent for growing and cultivating plants. Barrio Vivo provides her with both a space and a platform to share her passion for gardening and sustainable living. Through the project’s workshops, she has learned to design and build more advanced food production systems at home, while also gaining hands-on experience with new cultivation methods directly on site. In addition, the opportunity to trade part of her harvest has become a valuable support for her household economy, turning her passion into both a personal and financial asset.
VALERIA AND SOFÍA (9 AND 11)
Valeria and Sofía are two inseparable sisters who love spending their days outdoors. This project gives them the opportunity to grow up healthy and connected to nature. With fresh, nutritious food grown both on-site and within their own neighborhood, they enjoy meals made from ingredients they recognize and trust. After school and on weekends, they head straight to a nearby green space, an area filled with endemic vegetation and carefully protected for community use, where they play freely and safely. At the local convenience stores, transformed by the project, they’ve grown accustomed to choosing healthy produce they’ve come to enjoy at home. For them, wellness, play, and nature are all part of everyday life.
RICARDO (25)
Ricardo recently began working at Barrio Vivo after graduating in Robotics from the Tecnológico de Monterrey. He lives in a compact loft apartment on-site, where he wakes up each morning surrounded by greenery and vibrant life, a daily reminder of the project’s values. His work takes place in the administrative offices, where he leads the drone transport initiative. Focused on optimizing code and systems, Ricardo is developing solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve delivery efficiency between the main site and the network of transformed convenience stores. His goal is to make the system faster, smarter, and more reliable, playing a key role in shaping a sustainable and technologically advanced future for Barrio Vivo.
