A trend increasingly present in the country
Mexico’s architectural tradition traces back to the great pre-Columbian civilizations, which left a great legacy that is still alive in their roads, temples, pyramids, and ball games. The Mexican ingenuity and creativity are more alive than ever, and the numerous breath-taking sustainable developments are proof of that. These projects lead by example and point the way to new sustainable methods of construction that bring harmony with the environment and wellness for human beings. Keep reading to learn more about how Mexico is a trendsetter in terms of sustainable urban development.
Mexico’s only Green library.
Inaugurated in 2006, the Vasconcelos Library was thought to bring together literature and culture with nature. The library is a piece of the architect Alberto Kalach, and the design of the main building features a system of indirect lighting that protects the books and provides readers with natural light, promoting a pleasant reading experience. The architectural design utilizes ecotechnics, such as natural cross-ventilation, where clean air and daylight enter through large windows. Also, the place has a green roof that creates a thermal layer, keeping the facilities fresh during the summer and warm during the winter. Today, the Vasconcelos library is in the top ten of the most internationally renowned buildings of its type.
Latin America’s largest Green roof
The Mexican architects Teodoro Guzmán de León and Abraham Zabludovsky created in 1975 the building that fosters the headquarters of INFONATIV, the Worker’s National Housing Fund. The green roof was inaugurated in 2011 over a surface of 5,265 meters square, of which 2,279 are covered by vegetation, including 125 native species of three Mexican ecosystems: desert, rainforest, and the tropical lands, as well as an orchard where herbs and vegetables are grown for the preparation of the meals of the staff that works in the building. The roof also features sidewalks and jogging trails, areas for working out and meditating. You don’t need to be an INFONAVIT employee to visit this place and get inspired by its sustainable design, which thrives without pesticides or agrochemicals, as there are free guided visits available.
An underground architectural feat
The firms KMD and Arquitectoma rescued an abandoned plot of land and transformed it into Garden Santa Fe is, on the surface, a gorgeous urban park full of vegetation, water mirrors, pathways to walk and jog, and colorful floral gardens, and under the ground, a state-of-the-art shopping center, illuminated by a system made of inverted conic structures, which provide natural ventilation and lighting. This innovative development features photovoltaic cells, solar heaters, and energy-saving lamps, along with a system of rainwater harvesting and infiltration and a wastewater treatment plant.
The best of two worlds in the heart of the Mexican Caribbean
The GSI Tower is a project that will become a trend-setter in terms of how to build in a place like Cancun. The sustainable tower is a project of Sanzpont and is planned to have a shopping mall, hotel, and a corporate area. The tower will be comprised of two vertical bodies connected by a bridge and will have courtyard gardens, and a ventilated façade made of alucobond that will resemble fish scales, allowing the structure to stay cool. The GS Tower will be a harmonic, environmentally-respectful space, where its visitors will be able to enjoy unforgettable views of the Nichupté Lagoon from its urban veranda and lookout restaurant on its top.
A city made with recycled materials
Container City is a Mexican development in San Andrés Cholula, in the State of Puebla. This project brings together two necessities of today’s architecture and urban planning: cities within cities and sustainability. Gabriel Esper Caram turned 50 transport containers into bars, restaurants, galleries, and stores. The containers keep the temperature steady thanks to their isolating system, and most of the pipelines, decoration, floors, and amenities are made with recycled and upcycled materials.
