The recovered space becomes an extension of each house, transforming it into places of meeting and play. Between the anonymity of these residential groups, the architects propose a true public space for meeting, conversation, interaction among the residents.
Description of project by Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura
It is a rehabilitation project for the public space for the San Pablo Xalpa Housing Unit in Azcapotzalco. The unit was divided by walls, fences and barriers that the inhabitants themselves had built over time and that did not allow an advantage of the public space available.
The objective was to transform a "sectorized housing unit" into "COMMON-Neighborhood unit", designing with the community and not only for the community based on the implementation of different actions. The strategy of the project was to work with the barriers created by the inhabitants: permeate them, democratize them and re-signify them to generate UNITY in the unit.
Previously, the inhabitants of different sectors of the unit recurrently implemented temporary covers in the public area for events and meetings, thus extending their private area; working with them, we rescued the idea of covering certain spaces so that there would be areas of recreation and coexistence. They installed roofed modules that are more than a roof because their facades are equipped for different activities (blackboards, climbing walls, handrails and networks).
The public space recovered becomes an extension of each department. The strategy proved effective: people came together to contribute to the redesign of their unit; and such a change in the perception of public space was achieved that it was the neighbors themselves who requested the removal of fences. The space itself spoke and the inhabitants of the unit made the decision to eliminate the barriers and take advantage of their outdoor spaces filling them with public and common life.
