Reshaping Mexico's Public Space

Francisco Pardo Arquitecto designs urban parks to revitalize neglected suburban neighbourhoods in Mexico.

- Francisco Pardo Arquitecto

Commissioned by CIDS and INFONAVIT — the Mexican Housing Institutions reshaping Mexico’s mortgage market and promoting sustainable housing development — Parque Colinas del Sol and Parque Los Héroes, both designed by Francisco Pardo Arquitecto are part of a wider programme rethinking public space to revert the poor conditions of social housing over the last 30 years and heal the scars of abandoned properties and social segregation that affect the urban outskirts of the country.

Created in only six months, in full alignment with tight budgetary requirements and the need for ongoing low maintenance, the two parks featuring simple design solutions and affordable low-cost materials such as concrete, steel and cement blocks, and built with the support of the local community, by mobilizing the enthusiasm of local residents and generating a sense of belonging to a multicultural community.

“It is important to change not only the physical condition but also the perception of the space: as a designer, I believe that supporting local communities to achieve better public spaces for their families helps the greater community,” explained Francisco Pardo, founder of the Mexican firm.

Parque Colinas del Sol consists of the revitalization of the plazas and parks pertaining to the Unidad Habitacional de Colinas del Sol in Almoloya de Juárez. In order to optimize the two-hectare area, the site has been divided into different thematic areas — from the playground to the meditation spot, the skate ramp and football court to the pavilion for public events, enabling spontaneous and effective architectural interventions.