2024
MCHAP
CIVAC Parque Lineal, Centro Cívico y Skatepark
Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura
Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
July, 2022
PRIMARY AUTHOR
Rozana Montiel Saucedo (Founder and Director / Co-author of the project), Claudia Rodriguez (Co–author of the project)
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
Eleonora Pradegan (Architect at Rozana Montiel Estudio de Arquitectura), Brenda Landeros (Landscape Design), Tecnosfera (Jorge Núñez and Eder Martinez) (Skatepark Design), Luca Salas Bassani Antivari (Lighting Design), Francisco de Riquer Torres (Sanitary, Hydraulic, Stormwater, and Telecommunications Installations Design
CLIENT
Verónica Marín. Secretaria de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano (SEDATU)
PHOTOGRAPHER
Sandra Pereznieto
OBJECTIVE
The main design premise is based on recovering the identity of the local landscape. We found in the area a large number of endemic trees that were more than 50 years old. The challenge was to incorporate all the existing trees into the design. To achieve this, the project is fragmented, by placing the buildings of the civic center in the clearings. Some of these trees are integrated into the architecture, framed by porticos and colonnades. Along with the porticoes, the base of Texcal stone quarried from the site generates a series of platforms, terraces and galleries that integrate the path of the buildings with courtyards, gardens and rest areas. The administrative program - which includes the Property and Cadastre offices, Civil Protection and Attention to Sexual Diversity, the Delegation (CIVAC) offices, the Public Ministry and the Civil Register offices with spaces for support service and a ceremonial hall - was complemented by a library, a cafeteria, a first aid center, speech therapy and psychological care workshops, and a children's playground. The new public buildings were designed with sand-colored pigmented concrete as the main material. In certain parts, the pigmented concrete is transformed into a lattice block of the same color, which, with a play of light and textures, adds identity to the building. The building is integrated into its surroundings and generates pleasant spaces and interesting paths in the shade of the original trees on the site. The result is a unique balance between landscape, architecture and local materials.
CONTEXT
CIVAC Linear Park is an infrastructure and urban renewal project in one of the main avenues of Jiutepec in the State of Morelos under the Urban Improvement Program (PMU 2021) of the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU). Through this urban reconstruction action in vulnerable areas, we activated a series of public and cultural spaces in the Industrial City of the Cuernavaca Valley (CIVAC) to generate a sense of belonging and pride in their communities. The project integrates 1.15 kilometers of linear park, a civic center that houses the public institutions of the municipality and the delegation, a new Skatepark and an intermediate fountain that articulates the civic center with the linear park.
The commission was less ambitious than the final project, and included only the design of a linear park. After finding a couple of abandoned, dark and unventilated buildings where public institutions were located around the park, we suggested to incorporate the design of a new civic center to the project. The Skate Park proposal also arose from the realization that there was a large area south of the linear park that was dark, dangerous, treeless and extremely neglected. This space had the potential to become a Skate Park as the skate community was making informal use of this space.
After a series of negotiations, we were successful in incorporating both the design of the civic center and the formalization of a skatepark as an integral part of the project.
PERFORMANCE
The CIVAC project has met and exceeded expectations in several ways. It has transformed an industrial area into a vibrant community space, providing much-needed public spaces such as the Skatepark and the revitalized Playing Fountain. These additions have not only met the existing demand for recreational spaces but have also surpassed expectations by enhancing the overall quality of life for residents. Additionally, the new Civic Center –that includes a Civil Registry, Psychological Support, Property and Cadastre Offices, Civil Protection Office and a Public Library– has streamlined administrative processes, particularly for events like weddings, thereby improving user experience and contentment.
Unexpected benefits have also emerged from the project. The activation of the fountain as a public pool has stimulated local commerce, breathing new life into the surrounding area. Furthermore, the inclusion of social inclusion programs, such as the Office of Attention to Sexual Diversity and Speech Therapy Workshops addressed to children, has fostered a sense of community cohesion and mutual respect among residents, which may not have been initially anticipated but greatly enriches the overall impact of the project.
The project concept aligns closely with the context of the community's needs and aspirations. By providing accessible, beautiful and green public spaces, the project has added significant value to both users and the surrounding neighborhood. The creation of spaces with shadows and recreational facilities enhances the physical environment and promotes social interaction, thereby strengthening community bonds. Moreover, the new civic center not only improves accessibility but also fosters a sense of belonging and civic pride among residents.
