Latin America
Gold Award 2017
Hydropuncture
Publicly-accessible water retention and treatment complex, Mexico City, Mexico
Summary and appraisal of the project by the jury
Serving a dense, impoverished neighborhood of Mexico
City, this project combines much-needed water infra-
structure with a new type of public space. Stepped ter-
rain and a series of public buildings form a rich variety
of courtyards. Low basins host wetlands and provide
storage capacity to mitigate flooding during heavy
rainfall. Upper levels move from soft landscape to hard
paving, from park to plaza. By interweaving water man-
agement with public amenities, the project reintroduces
water to the civic realm.
Further authors
Yvonne Labiaga, Elena Tudela, Víctor Luna, and Fernando Gómez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico;
Oscar Torrentera, HUVA Consultoría; Julian Arroyo, D202; Sara Sour, Virens Arquitectura Paisaje Ingeniería;
Gustavo Rojas, Área Común; Néstor Rangel, Taller Capital; José Antonio Poncelis and Jorge Compeán, GAIA;
Alejandra Ramos, Emilio Ponce, Jetro Centeno, Margarita Gorbea, Oscar Díaz, and Lino Pau; all Mexico City,
Mexico
Resumen y apreciación del proyecto por parte del jurado
Complejo para retención y tratamiento de agua,
con acceso público, Ciudad de México, México
Este proyecto, ubicado en una zona empobrecida y
densamente poblada de la Ciudad de México, combi-
na infraestructura para la provisión de agua, muy ne-
cesaria en la zona, con un nuevo tipo de espacio pú-
blico. El terreno escalonado y una serie de edificios
públicos forman una rica variedad de espacios abier-
tos. Las cuencas bajas albergan humedales y ofrecen
capacidad de almacenamiento de agua. Esto permite
mitigar los efectos de las inundaciones que se produ-
cen a causa de las lluvias torrenciales. En los niveles
de altura existen espacios que van desde paisajes
atractivos hasta áreas pavimentadas, desde parques
hasta zonas de servicios. Al interconectar el manejo del
agua con los servicios públicos, el proyecto reintroduce
el agua en el ámbito ciudadano.
Image 3: Quebradora facilitates non-motorized mobility, enabling move-
ment from up the sierra to Ermita.
Image 7: Main entrance through Ermita-Minas-Paraíso, busy crossroads,
view towards Sierra Santa Catarina.
Main authors
Manuel Perló Cohen and Loreta Castro Reguera,
professors, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
Mexico City
Project data
Project group: Landscape, urban design,
transportation infrastructure
and public utilities
Client: Delegación Iztapalpa
Project background: Public commission
Planned start: December 2016
Working with the topography of the site, this project
reintroduces soft surfaces for water retention into a
city that has all but eliminated them. The jury was im-
pressed by the equal attention given to technical con-
siderations of water management, social provision of
public space, and the economics of construction as well
as long-term maintenance. Moreover, the design is spa-
tially compelling – by articulating the logic of the water,
it creates an attractive, dignified public realm in an area
lacking basic infrastructure.
Image 1: Located on the hillside of Sierra Santa Catarina, the site directly serves 28,000 inhabitants in urgent need of recreational spaces and water. By
removing the borders and placing a transparent permeable fence, the place becomes a sustainable water management landmark located in an impor-
tant crossroads. It fosters street life by adopting Paraíso Street and turning it into a shared mobility thoroughfare with commerce, reducing crime in
what the community detected as the most dangerous street in the area.
El proyecto trabaja con la topografía del lugar y logra
reintroducir en la ciudad la utilización de los suelos
blandos para la retención de agua, que habían sido
prácticamente eliminados. Uno de los aspectos que
impresionó al jurado fue que el proyecto refleja la con-
sideración dada a los aspectos técnicos del manejo
del agua, al uso social del espacio público, a la economía
de la construcción, y al mantenimiento a largo plazo
por igual. Además, el diseño es convincente desde el
punto de vista espacial, ya que articula la lógica del agua
y logra crear un entorno público dignificado y atractivo
en una zona que carece de infraestructura básica.
Image 2: The site will become a soft water management infrastructure powered with solar energy. It will filter 68,000m3 of runoff per year. Due to water
scarcity in the area, 86.4 m3/day of waste water will be treated for its further use in a system of public toilets that serve those that, although having the
facility, do not have water. Furthermore, the park will more than triple the number of trees in the area, augmenting open space from 1–3 m2/person,
emphasizing the sponge-like capabilities of the ground.
Image 4: The park stitches together the previously uncommunicated Image 5: Cross section: Molding the site through a strategy of stone Image 6: Cross section relating sidewalk and park. Underground runoff
surroundings, promoting day-long activities. retention walls and platforms. flows. Park program underneath.
Image 8: Each public square is represented by an endemic tree species, Image 9: Social center roof terrace view, southeastern access. Endemic Image 10: Adding a museum and a library with cafeteria are part of the
providing it with identity. plants adjust to climate conditions. community’s proposals.