HOUSING URBANISM MEXICO

In recent times, low income housing projects have emerged as gigantic footsteps at the outskirts of many cities in the global south, premonitory of urban expansion and sociospatial segregation. The narratives out of which these projects come about are very similar at their core intentions across nations, in culturally unequal contexts. However, the resources available, the processes and the distribution of the decision making capacity of the several stake holders take different arrangements that have impact on built form. With different degrees of success, architectural practice has to navigate through this weaving of relationships to claim its’ relevance as the coalescing instrument, the tool for embodiment, specially when the collective has to be represented. Categorizing projects by collective by government, labor, individual and empowerment, El Cielo Architecture´s participation at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2019 looks into the relationship of public housing policy, finance, political agenda, social engagement and architecture, as it determines the shape of Mexican urban environments for years to come.