MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE – Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert

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MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE – Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert

Information

  • Project Name: MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space
  • Student Name: Filippo Vajra, Giovanni Ratto
  • Awards: 1° Prize - Young Visionary Architecture Competition 2023 by Standout Archi | 1° Prize - ATA 2022 - Architectural Thesis Award 2022 by Archistart | 3° Prize - A4TC - Thesis competition by artuminate & archiol | Shortlisted - Architectural Thesis Award 2022 by Mango Architecture
  • Softwares/Plugins: SketchUp , AutoCAD , Adobe Illustrator
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Excerpt: ‘MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE – Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space’ is a masters design thesis by Filippo Vajra and Giovanni Ratto from Dipartimento Architettura e Design – Università degli Studi di Genova that aims to strike a balance between the informal sector’s occupants of public spaces and their design through urban insert. The project seeks to enhance flexibility by offering a variety of scenarios at various scales, including architecture, small design, and infrastructure, for sporadic, informal activities.

Introduction: According to data from the INEGI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), approximately 30,500,000 people in Mexico worked in the informal sector in 2018. Five out of ten workers in Mexico City are employed in the informal commercial sector, where they perform a variety of commercial activities like construction, cleaning, and transportation. In an effort to fund public works, the municipality is raising millions of dollars.

Based on field research, this project proposal aims to strike a balance between the informal sector’s occupants of public spaces and their design. It perceives this occupation as a valuable resource for the smooth operation of a complex metropolis rather than an issue for the city. In reality, people who live in cities often have to travel for up to an hour or longer, and during this time, they are accompanied and come into contact with the dense network of informal services and products that are provided rapidly and widely.

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Site Context

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Site Urban Plan
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Typical Informal Commercial Ecosystems
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Main Commercial Typologies Analysis

An area of the historic city centre in Mexico city with a strong commercial identity was selected for the design of the urban commercial infrastructure project, after a methodical analysis of case studies found in public spaces. Therefore, the project develops a public area for the neighborhood of Lagunilla where informal activities are contemplated.

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Linear Case Studies
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Case Studies Analysis

The identified lot comprises a pre-existing, basic metal roof that was constructed to support a local community of traders who have lived there for many generations. The “non-virgin” character of the site therefore influenced the decision to intervene, since “top-down” logic and “bottom-up” processes had already undergone some initial mediation.

Design Process

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Materials Life Cycle

Direct user interaction made it possible to gather some of the most important issues that were considered during the design process. The result is a structure that attempts to integrate sustainability, service improvement, and context awareness on multiple spatial scales.

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Modular Roof
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Vertical Connections
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Green Oasis
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Architectural Volumes

Hence, the project was completed in a modulated wooden structure designed to allow the movement of common users and unofficial devices. The goal is to create a range of scenarios at different scales (architecture, small design, and infrastructure) to make the project more flexible by suggesting different uses and providing a certain amount of “negotiable” space for sporadic, informal activities.

Final Outcome

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Axonometric In Context
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Ground Floor Plan
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Section

The project is a linear space with a range of environments, some of which support more regular activities and others which are more sporadic and provide a constant supply of fresh spaces for recreation and socializing. The existing cloth market is located on the ground floor of the building, while a bustling public path on the first floor passes by a variety of mixed-use areas, including a sports court, a children’s learning centre, an exhibition space, and two artisanal workshops.

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
First Floor Plan
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Section
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Detailed Section and Construction Elements

A certain amount of focus was also placed on the development of technological solutions that would facilitate simple maintenance, minimize waste from wood purchases, and ensure that wood was circularly used in architecture throughout its life.

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Architectural Elements
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
Section

Conclusion: By proposing various uses and offering a “negotiable” space for informal activities, the project is designed to create flexible scenarios at multiple scales, including architecture, small design, and infrastructure, resulting in a modulated wooden structure.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]

Site Context

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert

Design Process

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert

Final Outcome

MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert
MEXICO CITY OF NO ONE - Research and Proposal for the Occupation of Public Space | Masters Design Thesis on Urban Insert

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