sooho_booklet_1

sooho

Sofía Alcaraz Cabrera - Ana Paula Rodríguez Pérez - Eduardo Aarón Aguirre Carmona

participatory architecture of medium complexity AR3011B Tecnológico de Monterrey Escuela de Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture educational faculty Rodrigo Pantoja - Diana García - Pedro Mendoza - Yetzi Tafoya - Andrea Parga Viviana Barquero - Santiago Luján - Carlos González - Udo Muchow - Rogelio Cadena Justin DeGroff - Dirk Deninson a project by Sofía Alcaraz Cabrera - Ana Paula Rodríguez Pérez - Eduardo Aarón Aguirre Carmona

07

41

59

135

145

i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

seed

burgeon

harvest

root

bloom

background

site analysis

productive food loop

environmental footprint

acknowledgements

distritoQro

design exploration

plant nursery greenhouse

urban relationship

references

users

formal strategies

regenerative agriculture parcel

a seed in Queretaro

manifesto

program

aeroponic research laboratories

study cases

learning grounds student housing farm-to-table restaurant

urban commons gallery local produce commerce educational workshops civic agora

m u l a n d s c a p a Cities were never meant to exist detached from the systems that sustain life. Yet within dense urban fabrics, nature is often reduced to fragments, decorative, controlled, and disconnected from everyday existence. sooho emerges from the belief that growth can still happen within the center of the city, that even within concrete, infrastructure, and industrial remains, there is still fertile ground for transformation.

r e p l a

g v g g e r a g r i c u l t u r e s e r o p l e p e g e a wb r n i n s r see d l i n g t u p o l eg rg b u c h e o n a p e t a l e l t or p s o o h o p en oa t h fe e v r m l dc v e o o o y i e ld r f s u t c a n t urban s e m t r i l r i c s i m s e herbal e c h l

seed Every transformation begins as a fragment, a quiet intention planted into uncertain ground. As the territory is slowly read and understood, the project starts invisibly, gently seeding the conditions necessary to emerge. Like something hidden beneath the soil, its first traces exist long before they can be seen.

peripheral view of Querétaro in the 1970s

photographs of Querétaro in 1970 - 1990 A glimpse into Querétaro a few decades ago reveals the radical shift in the city´s character. What was once surrounded by green areas has been overwhelmed by a fast growing state with new interests. These images awaken questions about the future of the city and the direction that the urban growth will take in upcoming years.

panoramic view from the pyramid of El Cerrito towards La Negreta 1970-1990

seed: background

satellite view of Querétaro, late 80s /early 90s

view of the Tecnológico de Monterrey campus Querétaro in the early 80s

9

memories of Querétaro As a fast-growing state, Querétaro has experienced radical changes to its urban trace and its surroundings. In this sense, studying the former urban sprawl and satellite images help understand the original urban dynamics.

Interestingly, most of the important landmarks and main avenues have remained, showing their relevance as the city´s backbone

seed: background

tecnológico de monterrey querétaro campus

epigmenio gonzález

av. universidad

alcanfores park train track

av. 5 de febrero

cerro de las campanas

uaq university

alameda hidalgo

ignacio zaragoza street

main streets scale 1:30000

11

urban sprawl and agricultural land As seen in the map, Querétaro city is almost completely surrounded by agricultural land . As the city continues to grow it is important to reflect about the relationship between the urban and the rural areas, and how they should aim to benefit each other. The high contrast is a cause of a separation between these two land uses that obscures the rural life for city inhabitants.

seed: background

urban metropolitan area agricultural metropolitan area scale 1:500000

13

market centralization As a symptom of the urban sprawl, most of the markets are located near the city. Even though these commerces sell rural products and are an important part of the symbiotic relationship, they do not need to make an effort to connect the city to the rural areas, and thus the separation is kept.

seed: background

stores with fruits and vegetables stores without fruits an vegetables urban metropolitan area agricultural metropolitan area scale 1:500000

15

approaching distritoQRO Focusing on distritoQRO, it is integrated into the city center, creating an opportunity to connect the urban trace of the city.

However, it is also evident that it is separated from the agricultural land and thus, a higher effort needs to be made to reconnect it into the rural areas.

seed: background

stores with fruits and vegetables stores without fruits an vegetables distrito qro urban metropolitan area agricultural metropolitan area scale 1:65000

17

markets and produce accesibility When analyzing the distritoQRO polygon through the lens of food inequality, a disparity is quickly evident: most of the produce accesibility is bound to the residential areas north and south of the polygon. In this way, both sections are separated by industry, and it acts as an obstacle in the goal to create a unified distritoQRO.

seed: distritoQro

industrial land use urban equipment markets supermarkets scale 1:29000

19

urban mobility and land use Within distritoQRO, the site is located in a central position, surrounded by industrial land. Most of the residential areas are located to the north and south of the polygon, which creates a necessity to unify them and deepening the community relationships. Fortunately, the site is located next to a bus stop that makes it easily accesible from other areas of the city.

seed: distritoQro

industrial land use urban walkability public transport college facilities green spaces scale 1:29000

21

educational institutions distritoQRO is bound by the educational institutions that inhabit it. This is an opportunity for the architectural program and how it relates to the neighborhood. In the same way, the project should aim to unify the institutions taking advantage its central location. Given the opportunity, the project should aim to harvest a productive relationship with these schools.

seed: distritoQro

high school - university educational equipment scale 1:29000

23

students

researchers

focused on agricultural or biotechnology related studies that aim to complement them with practical projects

who search for facilities to deepen their thesis and projects in a space that is best suited for them

seed: users

farmers

distritoQRO inhabitants

looking to share their agricultural knowledge and learn about new technologies

that take part in workshops, commerce within site and other recreational activities

25

i city as a democratic project 01. the right to be seen 02. territorial agency 03. pedagogy of the city ii. the city of proximity 04. City Within Reach 05. Mobility as a Scale to Freedom 06. Homes in Motion iii. ecological infrastructure 07. bring nature back 08. a city that filters 09. reclaiming the rain iv. urban metabolism and local production 10. second life protocol 11. heritage of the used 12. industry with purpose 13. innovation that cares 14. edible district

focusing the manifesto While studying inequality in distritoQRO, the class efforts translated into 14 manifesto rules that would guide the group projects into a more focused narrative and purpose.

This way, the project was born from the group’s interest in food inequality, resulting in 4 manifesto rules to lead the architectural decisions within the project

seed: manifesto

02

03

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

01

04

13

14

27

urban vulnerabilities environmental inequality

manifesto water stress rainfall variability aquifer depletion water waste soil degradation from urbanization lack of urban green infrastructure industrial emissions concentration

food inequality

speculative land investment local food production decline food security vulnerability dependence on imported food supply chain disruptions rising food prices

climate-sensitive crop instability food accessibility barriers food environment imbalance income food purchasing gap nutritional inequality public health disparities educational inequality

educational inequality declining quality of life economic polarization migration pressure housing affordability crisis service desert formation

urban vulnerabilities

manifesto

01

02 03

04

05

06

07

08 09

10 11 12

13

14

seed: manifesto

manifesto

strategies

program

waste management systems water reuse systems

urban green areas (green lungs)

ecological repair urban cleaning infrastructure

endemic garden regenerative agriculture parcel

endemic landscaping

greenhouse

pollution mitigation

plant nursery green public space permeable surfaces

consumption reuse

accessibility

rainwater harvesting system

food systems local production aeroponic research labs fresh food marketplace

mixed-use

rural–urban production integration

farm-to-table restaurant local produce market

public space network

educational kitchen collective value creation

education community educational workshops gallery temporary student housing

public space reactivation

agora / civic gathering space

urban walkability flexible-use spaces

environmental awareness spaces

environmental awareness programs

visibility

manifesto

strategies

program

s o o h o a center for regenerative food futures

29

bárbaro A farm-to-table restaurant located on the rural outskirts of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. The project connects gastronomy with the surrounding agricultural landscape, emphasizing ingredients sourced from local farms and regional producers. Its open-air architecture and rustic materials create a direct relationship between cooking, dining, and the countryside. Through wood-fired grills and communal spaces, the project highlights traditional cooking methods while celebrating seasonal products and the cultural value of local food.

seed: study cases storage

services

production

education

commerce

2.25% communal workshop

2.25%

2.5% infrastructure

3.8% general storage

0.6% product sales

8.58%

8.1% restaurant 3.4% recreational

24.8% parking areas

33.40%

5% animal production

18.8% agricultural plots

21% orchards and vegetable gardens

45.03%

10.74%

31

tuju A contemporary restaurant located in São Paulo, Brazil, recognized for linking gastronomy with sustainable food production. The project integrates cultivated gardens with dining spaces, allowing ingredients to be grown and transformed within the same environment. Its architecture connects interior and exterior areas, emphasizing the relationship between food, landscape, and culinary experimentation. By focusing on local and seasonal ingredients, Tuju highlights the importance of sustainable practices and regional food culture.

seed: study cases storage

services

production

education

commerce

3.53% general storage

4.45% pantry 3.15% service area

12.24% wc

15.40%

7.98%

2.78% bar 11.5% hydroponics

12.62% kitchen

13.36% offices

40.26%

2.41% bar

33.96 % restaurant

36.36%

33

casa de la cosecha A small rural infrastructure project located in Colombia that supports local farming communities. It functions as a shared space where crops can be harvested, sorted, and stored collectively. Built with simple construction techniques and local materials, the architecture responds to climate and rural working conditions. Beyond its practical role, the project strengthens community relationships by providing a central place where farmers can gather, exchange knowledge, and support local food production.

seed: study cases storage

services

production

8.3% Communal workshop

2.5% wc

8.3%

2.6% building Services 5.8% equipment Storage

13.17% food storage

25.8%

education

4.8% circulation

9.9% 8.7% workshop

8.7% preparation room

26.5 % processing hall

44%

commerce

11.08% community dining

11.08%

35

zona viva A rural cluster inserted within Querétaro city that produces food with the help of the community. The produce is then sold on-site and helps sustain the iniciative. It interacts with the neighborhood through weekly events and volunteering colaborations with educational institutions. Additionally, educational workshops are held with children that attend.

seed: study cases storage

services

production

education

commerce

1.33% café

3.3% farm-to-table market 2.62% wc

5.24% workshops

9.62% service area 6.82% enclosed storage

7.69% multipurpose room

12.24%

12.94%

10.80% open storage

17.61%

2.41% bar

33.96 % restaurant 2.67% greenhouse

49.91% orchard urban garden

52.58%

4.63%

37

raised beds

workshops

kitchen

store

seed: study cases

vegetable patch

dining room

endemic garden

greenhouse

laboratory

39

burgeon Growth rarely happens all at once. Ideas stretch outward, finding direction through experimentation, observation, and connection.

What once existed only as instinct gradually begins to burgeon through the foundations hidden below.

site chosen and group projects After analyzing distritoQRO through different lenses and perspectives of inequality, 7 sites were chosen in order to create the most amount of impact in the surrounding area.

Interestingly, all of them are focused on industrial land use.

As part of this group project’s important context boundaries theres is Epigmenio González, an important avenue that connects distritoQRO to the main avenue of 5 de Febrero and the rest of the city. Additionally, the site has 2 important inmediate boundaries with other group projects.

burgeon: site analysis

43

industrial warehouse #1

industrial warehouse #2

industrial warehouse #3

industrial warehouse #4

~ 285m² 41.5 x 50m²

29.5 x 50m²

29.5 x 50m²

60 x 19.5m²

~ 2075m²

~ 1475m²

~ 1475m²

~ 1170m²

industrial purpose

Raymond CO.

Raymond CO.

Raymond CO.

Raymond CO.

envelope materiality

galvanized sheet

galvanized sheet

galvanized sheet

galvanized sheet

structure materiality

IPR columns

IPR columns

IPR columns

IPR columns

total IPR columns

30

24

24

21

total steel in structure

~ 31,830kg

~ 25,464kg

~ 25,464kg

~ 22,281kg

total steel to be removed

~ 19,098 kg

~ 15,915 kg

~ 25,464kg

~ 22,281kg

total steel to be kept

~ 12,732 kg

~ 9,549kg

0kg

0kg

total steel to be reused

~ 19,098kg

~ 15,915kg

~ 2,804kg

0kg

FE (kgCO₂/kg)

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.85

total CO² saved

35,331kg

29,442kg

5,187kg

0kg

pre-existences within site One of the project’s goals is to reactive the industrial land use into a program that is further integrated into the neighborhood. It became apparent that some changes were needed in the volume and how it responds to the urban trace. In this sense, the pre-existing structure was analyzed and later quantified. The demolition was planned accordingly. Once the project was developed, the reused structure was contrasted to the pre-existing, and the total CO² saved became an important part of the project.

burgeon: site analysis

recreational

industry

commerce

commerce

Fútbol Capital

Corporación Raymond de México (Montacargas Eléctricos)

Cervecería Cuatro Palos MARA&CO KV Logistics

EQUIGARDEN Box It Empaques Distribuidora Industrial de Empaques

commerce Estafeta ROCHIZA TABLAROCA Wtf chelería

bus stop

45

view of the industial warehouse from the service road

photographs of site in the current day When visiting the site, the challenges to overcome became clearer to our group. The pre-existences currently act as a barrier and obtacle to the housing in the south region of distritoQRO. However, it was also relevant that the pre-existing commerce assists in activating the routes within and surrounding the site, and thus it was kept in the project.

view of the industrial warehouse from the back

burgeon: site analysis

view of the industrial warehouse from Epigmenio González

view of the commerce next to the industrial warehouses

47

experimentation with foam shapes

program choice

program arrangement

burgeon: design exploration

model

experimentation with volumes in axonometric

49

form iterations As the project progressed, it became exciting to explore the different form possibilities that integrated the three inequalities that were of interest to the group: environmental, food and education inequality. Through a back and forth dynamic, the project landed in volumes that were created from the industrial footprint and thus interact with it.

burgeon: formal strategies

routes environmental food education scale 1:2000

51

01

reading the existing fabric The proposal begins by recognizing the permanence of the existing industrial structure, reusing its structural rhythm as the foundation for a new system.

05

formal design strategies Volumes became a way of exploring the relationship between environmental, food, and educational inequalities within the site. Through the reinterpretation of the existing industrial footprint, the proposal developed into a series of elevated volumes inserted within the preexisting structure. By separating the controlled productive systems from the public ground floor, the project creates a continuous upper flow while maintaining transparency and openness at the urban level.

creating a continuous upper flow Upper level follows the logic of the agricultural cycle itself, linking greenhouse systems, laboratories, study areas, and housing-related programs through a continuous sequence.

burgeon: formal strategies

02

03

04

reinterpreting the structural grid

dissolving the envelope

inserting the programatic volumes

The existing structural rhythm is reused and adapted to support new productive and educational programs within the site.

Parts of the original galvanized sheets are removed to increase permeability, light access, and visual connection across the project.

New volumes are strategically inserted according to the spatial and programmatic requirements of cultivation, research, education, and public use.

06

07

08

releasing the elevated volumes

stitching vertical connections

returning the ground floor to the city

Sections of the existing structure are removed and reconfigured to open space for the new elevated interventions and structural reuse

Vertical circulation cores, service elevators, and accessible pathways are inserted at strategic points to support both public and productive movement.

The ground floor remains fully open and accessible, transforming the former industrial base into a public urban extension without physical barriers.

53

storage

services

production

education

commerce

6.9% temporary student housing 1.6% kitchen

1.0% refrigeration 2.4% general storage

11.9% aeroponic labs

4.5% ~ 560 m²

1.5% local produce market 1.0% plant nursery greenhouse

2.6% farm-to-table restaurant

10% commercial parking 1.4% educational workshops

18.4% service parking

28% ~ 3,456 m²

3.2% civic agora 3.5% gallery

23.7% regenerative agriculture parcel

38.3% ~ 4,722 m²

15% ~ 1,846 m²

14.1% ~ 1,737 m²

burgeon: program

program regenerative agriculture parcel plant nursery greenhouse aeroponic labs kitchen student housing local produce market farm-to-table restaurant educational workshops civic agora gallery parking scale 1:2000

55

sooho blooms Once the urban and volumetric exploration reached its conclusion, the project was born. An agricultural research center that connects distritoQRO and aims to create an educational and rural haven.