By The Chapultepec Environmental Culture Center encompasses a Pavilion enveloped by Gardens designed with a naturalistic ethos and an ethnobotanical perspective. These Gardens pay homage to the diverse ecosystems and natural terrains of the Valley of Mexico Basin, integrating seamlessly with Chapultepec’s existing vegetation and topography to enhance its potential as an urban forest.
Enhancing Pedestrian Connectivity
To facilitate accessibility and enjoyment of the Gardens, a network of Biocultural Walks has been introduced, enhancing pedestrian connectivity within the forest. These Walks offer an immersive experience in nature, fostering an educational understanding of the significance of natural elements within an urban forest and our interconnectedness with them.
Harmonizing Nature and Culture
The Biocultural Walks follow trajectories resembling a concentric spiral, seamlessly merging with the curved contours of Menor Lake. Starting from various cultural landmarks surrounding the land, the Walks converge at the Center for Environmental Culture. This cultural hub features an open-air Cultural Space and an Environmental Pavilion, fostering engagement with nature amidst new cultural and environmental dynamics.
Integrating With the Landscape
Strategically positioned within the natural terrain, the Environmental Pavilion harmonizes with the surroundings. Its semi-conical geometry and black stone cladding pay homage to the volcanic landscapes of Pedregal, blending effortlessly with the natural and cultural environment. This approach ensures a lightweight, flexible, and environmentally conscious pavilion.
Flexibility in Design
Internally, the Pavilion offers spatial flexibility, accommodating various museography proposals while maintaining visual transparency towards the Gardens and Cultural Space. Its versatility and dynamic spatial layout allow for diverse activities and exhibition programs, promoting direct engagement with the surrounding landscape.
Promoting Biodiversity and Citizen Participation
Formerly a vehicular parking lot, the Agroecological Zone now fosters biodiversity through rotating crops and stone-walled “tecorrals.” This area encourages citizen participation through educational, demonstration, and agricultural production programs, promoting environmental stewardship and biodiversity conservation.
Sustainable Design Principles
The project adheres to permaculture design principles, zoning the space and regulating maintenance levels based on proximity to the Environmental Culture Center. An irrigation system, operating via gravity, sustains the agroecological zone, ensuring efficient water management while promoting sustainable practices.
Conclusion: Fostering Environmental Consciousness
The Chapultepec Environmental Culture Center epitomizes a harmonious coexistence between nature and culture. Through thoughtful design and sustainable practices, it not only enriches the urban forest of Chapultepec but also serves as a catalyst for environmental education and cultural engagement, fostering a deeper connection with our natural surroundings.
