The common practice of social housing in Mexico is for private developers to secure government loans and use the money to create developments on city peripheries where there is a lack of infrastructure, transit options, and cultural, work, and educational opportunities. Housing is badly needed, especially as people migrate to cities for opportunity, but this practice of social housing is simply not the answer.
In Mexico City there are fragments of space throughout where, if social housing can be introduced, existing infrastructure and opportunities can be taken advantage of.
Looking at housing typologies we can find new forms of ownership and living that can save costs.
Single Family - All costs are covered by the owner
Multifamily - Costs are divided by users, but there are more costs due to the increase in fixtures.
Co-living - Costs are separated by users and with less fixtures and shared spaces, additional savings are gained.
This site is in the Benito Juarez district in which 1.5 million people commute to for work and other activities. It uses the fragments created by the intersections and is connected to both bus and metro systems.
Vehicular and pedestrian traffic determine the space that can be used on the fragments. These fragments are currently used as open space for the residents and commuters in the area. Street vendors set up here and there are many seating areas. These spaces are valuable to the city and should be preserved.
The project is located on the Northwest fragment. There is a lot of life happening there that should be facilitated. The housing should touch down lightly so as to not take up too much space. There is also an opportunity for the Co-living kitchen to become a street vendor amenity so that the housing can tie into the existing community.
In order to create a building that is light on its feet to facilitate public life and gives natural light to both the residences and the ground floor space beneath, subtractions from the mass were made.