RootDistrict_Bookpt2

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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URBAN CONDITIONS

URBAN PROGRAM Problem: Low program mix Impact: Less social interaction

PUBLIC SPACES Problem: Privatizated spaces Impact: Reduced Urban appropiation

URBAN PERMANENCE Problem: Scarce permanence Impact: Empty spaces

LAND USE Problem: Separation of uses Impact: Fragmented city

LOCAL ECONOMY Problem: Absence of local commerce Impact: External dependence

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The contemporary urban model in Querétaro has largely developed through a system of rigid zoning, where housing, commerce, work, recreation, and mobility are distributed as separate and independent functions throughout the city. Rather than creating integrated urban environments, this fragmented structure has produced isolated sectors that depend heavily on constant movement between destinations. Daily life becomes defined by transition: moving from home to work, from work to commerce, from commerce to recreation, often through long vehicular journeys disconnected from the public realm.

As a consequence, the city experiences low walkability, extended commuting times, and a growing dependence on private vehicles. Public space loses permanence and social intensity because urban life is reduced to circulation rather than interaction. Streets function primarily as infrastructures of movement instead of collective spaces for encounter, exchange, and community life. Pedestrian experiences become secondary, while large-scale roads, parking areas, and isolated developments dominate the urban landscape.

At the architectural scale, many contemporary developments reinforce this condition of fragmentation. Residential towers, commercial complexes, and mixed-use projects frequently operate as autonomous objects disconnected from their surroundings. Their ground floors remain inactive or privatized, limiting permeability and reducing opportunities for social interaction. Open spaces are often residual rather than intentional, lacking the spatial quality necessary to encourage permanence, activity, or collective appropriation.

Instead of contributing to the continuity of the city, these developments produce urban fragments with weak relationships to the pedestrian network and limited integration with public life. The result is an urban fabric composed of isolated interventions that coexist physically, yet fail to connect socially or spatially. Architecture becomes an object within the city rather than an extension of it.

This condition has also weakened the relationship between people and the urban environment. Spaces of transition dominate over spaces of encounter, while the experience of the city becomes increasingly individual and transient. The absence of active public interfaces, shaded pedestrian environments, vegetation, and mixed social programs diminishes opportunities for spontaneous interaction and collective identity. Urban density grows, but social connectivity does not necessarily grow with it.

In response to these challenges, the project proposes a more integrated urban strategy that understands architecture as a catalyst for connectivity, permanence, and public life. Rather than functioning as an isolated object, the proposal seeks to reconnect fragmented urban conditions through permeability, mixed-use activation, environmental systems, and pedestrian continuity. The ground floor becomes a social and urban extension of the city, encouraging interaction, accessibility, and collective occupation.

Through active public spaces, bioclimatic strategies, vegetation, and flexible communal programs, the project aims to transform movement into experience and infrastructure into place. The proposal challenges the contemporary tendency toward urban isolation by promoting a more human-centered approach in which architecture contributes not only to density, but also to social cohesion and urban continuity.

Ultimately, the project questions how architecture can move beyond the production of isolated buildings and instead participate in the construction of a more connected, walkable, and socially integrated city. In a context increasingly defined by fragmentation and speed, the project proposes permanence through interaction, environmental awareness, and the recovery of meaningful public space.

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CONCEPT & SYSTEM

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

SPACE AS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY AND PRODUCTION Space is understood as an active element that enables encounters, supports local economies, and reconnects users with natural processes. By creating environments that encourage staying, interacting, and participating, the project transforms everyday activities into opportunities for exchange and collective growth.

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1. Base plane The process begins with a clean plane that represents the site as an open, undifferentiated surface.

2. Existing footprint Current built volumes are mapped to understand existing conditions and areas of consolidation.

3. Connections and tensions Lines are drawn between key points, revealing flows, movement patterns, and relationships within the site and its surroundings.

4. Articulating core From these tensions, an organic central form emerges, acting as a public space and main point of interaction.

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

5. Programmatic nodes Different activity nodes (services, retail, amenities) are placed around the core, activating the space and diversifying its use.

6. Final integration The proposal comes together by integrating housing, public space, and mixed-use programs into a cohesive system where built and open spaces interact dynamically.

Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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CONVERGENCE THEORY

2. Connect + Link Paths and spatial connections guide activity toward a collective center.

1. Converge People + Place Bringing together community, movement, and nature within a shared urban environment.

4. Activate + Gather Open public areas interaction, encourage events, and everyday life.

3. Blend + Mix Programs, users, and landscapes overlap to create hybrid social spaces

Convergence Theory proposes that meaningful urban environments emerge when people, movement, landscape, and architecture interact within a shared system. Instead of separating functions and spaces, the theory focuses on integration; Creating places where circulation, public life, ecology, and built form continuously connect and reinforce one another. Through this approach, urban spaces become more dynamic, adaptable, and community-oriented.

At its core, convergence is about connection and coexistence. Public spaces act as the meeting point between different users, activities, and environments, encouraging interaction, accessibility, and a stronger sense of belonging. The theory also promotes flexibility, allowing spaces to evolve over time according to social and environmental needs.

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8. Flow + Integrate Landscape and architecture operate as one continuous spatial system.

6. Create Value Shared spaces generate environmental, social, and cultural benefits.

5. Root in Context The project grows from the identity, vegetation, and rhythms of the site

Inspiration 7. nspire + Multiply Connections extend beyond the site, creating a broader urban impact.

Within Root District, Convergence Theory becomes the conceptual foundation of the project. The proposal is designed as a permeable and interconnected urban ecosystem where landscape, mobility, commerce, and community life merge into one continuous experience.

Through fluid pathways, integrated green systems, and open gathering spaces, the project encourages interaction while strengthening the relationship between architecture, nature, and collective identity.

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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PROGRAMMATIC VISION

Root District integrates housing, commerce, learning spaces, urban agriculture and public life into a single mixed-use ecosystem. The project organizes these programs around shared open spaces, creating a district where daily activities, environmental awareness and community interaction happen simultaneously. Through active ground floors, productive gardens and shaded public areas, the proposal transforms the site into a resilient and socially connected urban environment.

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NETWORK OF ACTORS

The proposal is structured through a network of mobility actors, including government institutions, public transportation systems, and cycling initiatives, which collectively promote alternative and active modes of transportation.

The strategy focuses on improving pedestrian infrastructure, integrating bike lanes, and enhancing accessibility to transportation stations in order to reduce car dependency and encourage healthier urban mobility patterns. Through the connection of green corridors and safe cycling streets, the project establishes a continuous mobility network that links key urban zones.

These connections generate three main spatial experiences: the arrival and transport zone, which concentrates public transportation access; the passive mobility zone, designed for slower and contemplative movement within green spaces; and the active mobility zone, which supports dynamic activities such as walking, cycling, and recreation. Together, these systems reinforce the concept of core connectivity, where mobility, landscape, and public life merge into a cohesive urban framework.

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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NETWORK OF ACTORS

This strategy is developed through the collaboration of multiple actors involved in water management, environmental infrastructure, and urban sustainability. Government institutions, private developers, ecological organizations, and infrastructure systems work together to create a more resilient relationship between the city and its natural resources. Through the integration of water treatment processes, collection systems, and ecological corridors, the proposal promotes a more responsible and efficient urban water cycle.

The project focuses on improving water accessibility, filtration, and reuse through sustainable strategies such as rainwater harvesting, permeable surfaces, and green infrastructure. These systems help reduce environmental impact while strengthening the ecological performance of the site and supporting long-term urban resilience. Vegetated areas and public green spaces also contribute to water absorption, thermal regulation, and the improvement of environmental quality within the district.

These interventions create different layers of environmental interaction, ranging from technical infrastructure and water treatment systems to recreational and ecological public spaces. Together, they establish a connected urban ecosystem where sustainability, landscape, and resource management become essential components of everyday urban life.

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CONAGUA CONAGUA

WATER ACTORS

Water management and regulation Canal restoration Ecological regeneration

CANAL INTAKE & MONITORING STATION Canal access points

Research infiltration

Canal governance and restoration

Environmental education Water treatment systems Research infiltration

Academic & research

Governance & restoration

Environmental focused NGOs on water restoration

Algae bio ltration Sustainable urban infraestructure Public space integration

PASSIVE MOBILITY ZONE Ecological Areas

CORE CONECTIVITY

Ecological education groups

Green corridor

ACTIVE MOBILITY ZONE

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Interaction and movement

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NETWORK OF ACTORS

The project is supported by a collaborative network of actors related to urban agriculture, sustainability, and community participation, where food production and environmental awareness become integrated into everyday urban life. Government institutions, academic organizations, neighborhood associations, community groups, urban farmers, and residents work together to promote sustainable cultivation practices and strengthen the connection between people, landscape, and the city.

Through community gardens, composting systems, and educational spaces, the proposal encourages participation, knowledge exchange, and collective responsibility toward the environment. Academic institutions and agricultural educators contribute through research and environmental education, while neighborhood associations and local communities help activate the spaces through workshops, planting activities, and collaborative initiatives that reinforce social interaction and community engagement.

By integrating cultivation areas, green corridors, and participatory public spaces, the project transforms vegetation into an active urban system that supports biodiversity, sustainability, and local food networks, creating a healthier and more resilient urban ecosystem for the community.

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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COLLABORATING AGENTS

The project is supported through a collaborative structure that combines urban development, strategic planning, financial investment, and academic research. This multidisciplinary relationship allows the proposal to move beyond a conventional architectural intervention by integrating economic, social, and urban perspectives into its development process.

YCONIA is responsible for the management, coordination, and execution of the project, ensuring that the vision is translated into a cohesive urban proposal. distritoQRO strengthens the project’s connection to the city by positioning it within a broader network of urban growth and innovation. Financial investors contribute to the economic feasibility of the proposal, enabling its implementation, long-term sustainability, and future expansion opportunities. At the same time, academia plays a key role by contributing research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, generating new ideas and analytical approaches that enrich the project’s development.

Together, these actors create a balanced ecosystem where design, urban strategy, economic viability, and knowledge production work simultaneously to support a more integrated and forward-thinking urban model.

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

MASTERPLAN & URBAN ESTRATEGY

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Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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MASTERPLAN

“Growing connections beyond infrastructure.”

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CIRCULATION & FLOWS

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Main UrbanMain Urban Corridors Corridors Project Access Project Access Flows Flows Running track Running track

A central A central hub that hub that organizes organizes traffictraffic flowsflows and connects and connects the the park to its to surroundings park its surroundings Located Located at a point at a of point convergence of convergence between between several several urbanurban corridors corridors that connect that connect residential areas,areas, facilities, and productive zones.

These residential facilities, and productive zones.

These corridors generate continuous user user flowsflows across the area.

The The corridors generate continuous across the area. projectproject takes takes advantage of thisof strategic condition to capture and and advantage this strategic condition to capture redistribute these these movements, integrating pedestrian access points redistribute movements, integrating pedestrian access points and public spacesspaces that that connect the site with with its immediate and public connect the site its immediate surroundings. surroundings.

Main paths Main leading paths leading to to Side paths Side paths that wind that wind Perimeter Perimeter path path entriesentries and context and context through through the parks the parks connecting connecting the entire the entire edgeedge

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Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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The vegetative masterplan of Root District is conceived as a living ecological infrastructure that integrates productive landscapes, public space, environmental mitigation, and community interaction into a single regenerative urban system. Rather than treating vegetation as a decorative layer, the proposal positions landscape as an active architectural and urban element capable of improving microclimatic conditions, fostering biodiversity, strengthening social cohesion, and supporting local food production.

The planting strategy is organized through a network of interconnected green systems distributed across the site, including productive orchards, urban agriculture plots, community gardens, shaded public plazas, permeable bioswales, and ecological corridors. Together, these components establish a continuous environmental framework that softens the urban condition while promoting healthier and more resilient spatial experiences.

At the core of the proposal, productive agricultural zones operate as both ecological and educational spaces. These orchards and cultivation areas are designed to support seasonal crops, local food production, and community participation through collective planting and harvesting activities. Beyond their productive function, the agricultural landscapes reinforce the identity of the district by reconnecting urban life with cultivation processes traditionally disconnected from contemporary cities.

Complementing these productive systems, native and adaptive vegetation is strategically distributed throughout pedestrian pathways, gathering spaces, and transitional zones to enhance thermal comfort and reduce heat island effects. Tree canopies provide shaded circulation routes, while layered vegetation improves air quality, increases water retention, and contributes to the overall environmental performance of the site.

VEGETAL ARCHITECTURAL PLAN

Community gardens are integrated as social condensers that encourage interaction between residents, visitors, and local producers. These spaces promote collective stewardship, environmental awareness, and a stronger relationship between users and the landscape itself. Through this approach, vegetation becomes not only an environmental resource, but also a catalyst for education, recreation, and community engagement.

The landscape strategy also incorporates permeable surfaces and rainwater-sensitive systems that support natural infiltration and sustainable water management. Bioswales, vegetated buffers, and planted retention areas contribute to stormwater control while reinforcing the ecological continuity of the masterplan.

Overall, the vegetative system of Root District establishes a regenerative urban ecosystem where architecture, landscape, production, and public life coexist in balance. The proposal transforms vegetation into an operative framework capable of generating environmental resilience, productive capacity, and meaningful collective experiences within the contemporary city.

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VEGETATION

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WATER TREATMENT / CANAL VEGETATION

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FOOD PRODUCTION LAYER

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SEASONAL / PUBLIC LANDSCAPE VEGETATION

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MEDICINAL & CULINARY PLANTS Source: Authors’ own elaboration

WATER TREATMENT / CANAL VEGETATION

FOOD PRODUCTION

Phytoremediation vegetation composed of wetland species such as Phragmites australis (common reed), Juncus effusus (rushes), Typha domingensis (cattail), and Cyperus papyrus (papyrus). These plants absorb pollutants, oxygenate the water, reduce odors, and support microorganisms that break down contaminants. Riparian trees including weeping willow, mesquite, and Mexican ash stabilize canal edges, provide shade, and improve the microclimate.

Edible planting beds with short-cycle vegetables such as lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, and radish, combined with common crops including tomato, jalapeño and serrano peppers, onion, and carrot. These species require moderate water and allow for continuous harvesting, supporting local food production and community engagement.

SEASONAL / PUBLIC LANDSCAPE VEGETATION

MEDICINAL & CULINARY PLANTS

A diverse mix of seasonal and flowering species such as lavender, salvia (Salvia greggii), gaura, cosmos, zinnia, and dahlias, combined with pollinator-friendly plants like echinacea, penstemon, and agastache. Ornamental grasses including Muhlenbergia capillaris, pennisetum, and stipa introduce movement and texture, while groundcovers such as lantana and portulaca provide continuity.

Selected for their low water demand and adaptability to semi-arid climates, enhances biodiversity, attracts pollinators, and creates dynamic public landscapes that change throughout the year.

Aromatic and functional species including rosemary, oregano, chamomile, sage, thyme, basil, lavender, cilantro, and spearmint. These plants require less water, attract pollinators, and enhance biodiversity while providing medicinal and culinary uses that strengthen the relationship between users and the landscape.

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

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The existing canal is reinterpreted as an active urban edge rather than a residual boundary. Through the addition of pedestrian corridors, a cycling path, a running track, and continuous tree lines, the project transforms this infrastructural condition into a comfortable and dynamic public route. The intervention enhances the canal’s presence within the site, promoting sustainable mobility, everyday The existing canal is reinterpreted as an active urban edge rather than a residual boundary. activity, and a stronger connection between landscape, Through the addition of pedestrian corridors, a cycling path, a running track, and conwater,tree and thethe built environment. framing condition the canal part tinuous lines, project transforms this By infrastructural into as a comfortable and dynamic public route. The intervention enhances the canal’s presence within the site, of the public experience, the proposal turns an existing promoting sustainable mobility, everyday activity, and a stronger connection between conditionwater, intoand a the spatial opportunity for movement, comfort, landscape, built environment.

By framing the canal as part of the public experience, the proposal turns an existing condition into a spatial opportunity for moveand urban life. ment, comfort, and urban life.

Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE

Summer Solstice — June 21, 3:00 PM

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Summer Solstice — June 21, 3:00 PM During the Summer Solstice, the Yconia towers generate shorter and more concentrated shadows due to the higher solar angle. This condition allows greater sunlight penetration into the central public areas while maintaining shaded edges that improve pedestrian comfort. The balance between direct light and protected outdoor space enhances the usability of the plaza throughout the afternoon, creating an active and climatically responsive environment.

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Winter Solstice — December 21, 12:00 PM

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Winter Solstice — December 21, 12:00 PM At midday during the Winter Solstice, the lower solar position produces elongated shadows that extend across the site and redefine the perception of open space. The volumetric arrangement of the towers creates moments of contrast between light and shadow, emphasizing spatial depth and orientation. This seasonal condition reveals how the project responds to changing environmental dynamics while preserving solar access within key communal areas.

Winter Solstice — December 21, 9:00 AM

The solar analysis explores how the Yconia towers interact with light and shadow throughout different moments of the year, revealing how seasonal conditions influence the environmental and spatial qualities of the project. By studying the Summer and Winter Solstices, the diagrams demonstrate how the volumetric arrangement of the towers shapes the experience of the public realm through changing patterns of sunlight, shade, and exposure.

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Winter Solstice — December 21, 9:00 AM In the early morning hours of the Winter Solstice, shadows become more directional and dramatic, reinforcing the relationship between tower orientation and the surrounding public realm. The low-angle sunlight accentuates the verticality of the buildings and creates a constantly evolving spatial atmosphere across the ground plane. These conditions highlight the importance of solar studies in shaping pedestrian experience, thermal comfort, and the environmental performance of the project throughout the year.

During the Summer Solstice, the higher solar angle produces shorter and more controlled shadows, allowing greater light penetration into central public spaces while maintaining shaded pedestrian areas that improve outdoor comfort. In contrast, the Winter Solstice generates longer and more dramatic shadows that emphasize the verticality of the towers and reinforce the relationship between height, orientation, and open space. These changing conditions create different spatial atmospheres throughout the day and throughout the year.

Beyond measuring solar exposure, the studies highlight how the towers function collectively as environmental elements that regulate comfort, frame public space, and contribute to the overall urban experience. The analysis demonstrates how light and shadow become active components of the project, shaping movement, perception, and the interaction between architecture and climate.

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COMMUNITY PROJECT REPORT

a. Bioclimatic strategies

BASIC DATA

Cross Ventilation Open courtyards allow natural airflow through the district.

Climate: temperate semi-arid Average annual temperature: 18–22°C HIGH SOLAR RADIATION Annual precipitation: ~550–600 mm Prevailing winds: northeast southwest HIGH WESTERN SUN EXPOSURE

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Located in a temperate semi-arid climate typical of the city of Querétaro, Root District is designed to address high solar radiation, low-precipitation seasons, and average temperatures between 18 and 22°C. Based on this climate analysis, the project incorporates bioclimatic strategies aimed at improving environmental comfort and reducing the district’s energy impact.

The permeable urban layout, the fragmentation of building volumes, and the incorporation of open courtyards promote crossventilation and reduce heat buildup in public spaces and buildings.

Similarly, green corridors, native vegetation, and shaded areas help mitigate direct solar exposure and reduce the urban heat island effect. The project also prioritizes natural lighting, permeable paving, and ecological integration as tools for building a more resilient, efficient, and adaptable urban ecosystem that responds to the site’s environmental conditions.

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WPC Screen + Green Façade Wooden louvers filter sunlight and support vertical gardens.

Green Corridors Vegetation connects spaces and improves the microclimate.

Permeable Paving Porous surfaces reduce runoff and allow water infiltration.

Shaded Public Space Canopies and greenery create cooler outdoor areas.

Native Vegetation Low-water plants adapt to Querétaro’s semi-arid climate.

Rainwater Collection Rooftop water is reused for irrigation.

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Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

COMMUNITY PROJECT REPORT EMBEDDED AND OPERATIONAL ENERGY The embodied energy reflects the environmental impact generated during the extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and construction of the materials used in the district. Root District seeks to reduce this impact through efficient material strategies, the incorporation of passive systems, and structural optimization.

Although the project uses highly durable materials such as concrete, steel, and glass, the proposal partially offsets its impact through urban vegetation, permeable spaces, and environmental regeneration strategies.

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Material

Approximate kgCO2eq/m²

Concrete

250–400

Steel

150–300

Glass

80–120

Estimated total project cost

680 kgCO2eq/m²

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Operational energy refers to to the the annual energy Operational energy refers annual energy consumption resulting from the the operation of buildings resulting from operation of buildings consumption andand urban spaces.

RootRoot District reduces this this consumption urban spaces.

District reduces consumption through bioclimatic strategies suchsuch as natural ventilation, through bioclimatic strategies as natural ventilation, passive lighting, solar shading, andand integrated vegetation. passive lighting, solar shading, integrated vegetation.

These measures reduce reliance on on mechanical HVAC These measures reduce reliance mechanical HVAC systems andand optimize the the district’s long-term energy systems optimize district’s long-term energy performance. performance.

Type of building Type of building

Approximate consumption Approximate consumption

Conventional building Conventional building

140–220 kWh/m²/year 140–220 kWh/m²/year

Energy-efficient building kWh/m²/year Energy-efficient building 70–120 70–120 kWh/m²/year Estimated RootRoot District Estimated District

95 kWh/m²/ yearyear 95 kWh/m²/

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WINDOW TO WALL RATIO

Indicator

Estimated value

Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR)

38%

Glass

Opaque surface

62%

Solid Wall

Estimated natural lighting

4% Daylight Factor

WPC screen

Estimated reduction in heat gain

20–30%

Complementary strategies

Passive shading, vegetation, cross-ventilation

Balcony parapet

Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Root District achieves an estimated Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) of 38%, balancing natural daylight and thermal performance according to Querétaro’s climatic conditions. The façade composition integrates 62% opaque surfaces and controlled glazed openings to reduce solar heat gain while maintaining visual comfort and natural illumination. Through passive shading and cross ventilation strategies, the project reaches an estimated 4% daylight factor and reduces thermal gain by approximately 20–30%.

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CROSS VENTILATION CROSS VENTILATION

Airflow Airflow Open courtyards permeable Open courtyards and and circulation paths allow natural permeable circulation paths airflow to move continuously Root allow natural airflow to through move District, reducing heat accumulation continuously through Root and improving District, reducingthermal heat comfort through passiveand ventilation strategies. accumulation improving

Voids & Patios Voids & Patios Open ground floor Open ground floor

thermal comfort through Source: Authors’ own elaboration passive ventilation strategies.

Cross ventilation in Root District is achieved through open courtyards, permeable pathways and strategically placed openings that allow air to move naturally across the buildings. Around 72% of the spaces receive constant natural airflow, helping reduce heat buildup and improving Cross ventilation Root District achieved open courtyards, pathways and strategically placedthe openings allow air to thermal comfortinthroughout theisdistrict.

By through relying on passive airflow permeable instead of fully mechanical cooling systems, project that lowers energy move naturallywhile across the buildings.

72% of the spaces receive constant natural airflow, helping reduce heat buildup and improving consumption creating healthierAround and more comfortable interior environments. thermal comfort throughout the district. By relying on passive airflow instead of fully mechanical cooling systems, the project lowers energy consumption while creating healthier and more comfortable interior environments.

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COMMUNITY PROJECT REPORT CO2 CAPTURE AND STORAGE

Root District integrates green infrastructure as a tool for ecological regeneration and environmental mitigation.

The incorporation of green corridors, urban gardens, native vegetation, and permeable areas contributes to carbon sequestration and improves the district’s environmental quality.

These strategies help partially offset the emissions generated by urban development and foster a more resilient and sustainable urban ecosystem.

Vegetation Layer

Function

CO₂ Capture

Water Treatment Vegetation

Phytoremediation + cooling

4.2 tCO₂/year

Public Landscape Vegetation

Biodiversity + shading

2.1 tCO₂/year

Food Production Layer

Urban agriculture

1.4 tCO₂/year

Medicinal & Culinary Plants

Pollinator support

0.8 tCO₂/year

Together, these environmental systems establish a regenerative urban framework where landscape infrastructure operates as an active component of the district rather than a purely aesthetic intervention. Vegetation, water management and productive landscapes work collectively to improve environmental performance while strengthening the relationship between users and the public realm.

The integration of ecological strategies throughout Root District contributes to carbon reduction, biodiversity enhancement and climate adaptation at multiple scales. By combining natural systems with public space and urban activity, the project promotes healthier living conditions and a more resilient urban environment capable of responding to future environmental challenges.

More than isolated sustainability features, these systems form part of an interconnected ecological network that supports long-term environmental balance while enriching the everyday experience of the community.

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RAINWATER HARVESTING The district incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, graywater reuse, and permeable paving to reduce potable water consumption and improve water management onsite.

The integration of xerophytic landscaping and low-wateruse vegetation optimizes irrigation and reduces water waste, adapting to the climatic conditions of Querétaro.

Strategy

Estimated impact

Rainwater harvesting

Partial annual recovery

Greywater reuse

Reduction in consumption

Estimated total savings

30–40%

Estimated reclaimed water

1.5 million liters per year

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Source: Authors’ own elaboration

Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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INTEGRATED RAINWATER COLLECTION AND REDISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Filtration module Underground cistern Pump room

The pluvial water management system is designed to collect, filter, store, and redistribute rainwater throughout the project in order to reduce potable water consumption and create a more sustainable water cycle within the building. Rainwater will be captured directly from the rooftop surfaces through a network of collection pipes integrated into the façade and structural system. Once collected, the water will flow vertically through the blue piping system toward the underground filtration modules located beneath the building. After passing through the filtration process, the water will be stored inside an underground cistern, where it will remain protected and ready for redistribution. From this storage tank, the pump room system will regulate water pressure and distribute the treated rainwater through the green piping network across the building.

The recovered water will primarily be redirected toward irrigation systems integrated into the project’s green infrastructure. This includes rooftop vegetation, façade planters, vertical gardens, and common landscaped areas, ensuring that all green spaces remain hydrated through recycled water rather than potable water sources. In addition, part of the treated water may also support secondary non-potable uses such as maintenance and service systems within the building. By implementing this closed-loop water strategy, the project minimizes runoff waste, improves environmental performance, and reinforces the relationship between architecture, sustainability, and urban ecological resilience

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YCONIA YCONIA Uses Uses aa more more conventional conventional residential residential layout layout with with separated separated towers towers and and centralized centralized public public space. space.

Circulation Circulation is is more more rigid rigid and and functional, functional, focusing focusing mainly mainly on on efficiency. efficiency.

Green Green areas areas work work mostly mostly as as landscape landscape elements elements around around the the buildings. buildings.

The project prioritizes density and organization over spatial The project prioritizes density and organization over spatial flexibility flexibility and and interaction. interaction.

ROOT ROOT DISTRICT DISTRICT

YCONIA YCONIA

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Proposes Proposes aa more more holistic holistic and and human-centered human-centered urban urban strategy, strategy, where where architecture, architecture, landscape, landscape, and and circulation circulation work work as as one one interconnected interconnected system. system.

Public Public space space extends extends throughout throughout the the entire entire district, district, generating generating continuous continuous interaction, interaction, movement, movement, and and social social activation activation at at multiple multiple scales. scales.

Introduces Introduces fluid fluid pathways, pathways, elevated elevated connections, connections, and and layered layered programs programs that that create create aa more more dynamic dynamic and and immersive immersive spatial spatial experience. experience.

Green Green infrastructure infrastructure is is fully fully integrated integrated into into the the architecture, strengthening the relationship architecture, strengthening the relationship between between nature, nature, wellness, wellness, and and everyday everyday urban urban life. life.

The project is designed to be more adaptable The project is designed to be more adaptable and and future-oriented, future-oriented, allowing allowing spaces spaces to to evolve evolve according according to to changing changing community community needs. needs.

Rather than functioning Rather than functioning only only as as aa residential residential development, development, Root Root District District creates creates aa vibrant vibrant mixedmixeduse use environment environment that that encourages encourages inclusivity, inclusivity, flexibility, flexibility, and and long-term long-term urban urban resilience. resilience.

ROOT DISTRICT Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization 107

ORIGINAL

From Static Facade to Bioclimatic Skin.

The original façades rely on repetitive elements and a horizontal monochromatic material palette that limits the visual identity of the towers.

While functional, the design lacks environmental responsiveness and creates a heavier architectural appearance with minimal interaction between the buildings and the surrounding public space. In addition, the absence of integrated shading strategies reduces thermal efficiency and results in less comfortable façade conditions throughout the year.

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Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

ROOT DISTRICT

The façades were enhanced through the implementation of WPC louvers, creating a more cohesive and environmentally responsive architectural language across the district. This strategy was developed through the solar analysis studies, which identified the areas with the highest sun exposure throughout the year. Based on these findings, the louvers help reduce direct heat gain, improve thermal comfort, and provide solar protection while still allowing natural light and ventilation. In addition, their warm materiality strengthens the relationship between architecture and landscape, giving the project a more sustainable and human-centered identity.

Image developed by the authors with AI-assisted visualization

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ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM

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