{"id":278365,"date":"2025-06-09T11:37:07","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T02:37:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adfwebmagazine.jp\/?p=278365"},"modified":"2025-06-09T11:42:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T02:42:02","slug":"from-neglect-to-renewal-ctm-culhuacan-in-mexico-city-by-amasa-estudio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adfwebmagazine.jp\/en\/architect\/from-neglect-to-renewal-ctm-culhuacan-in-mexico-city-by-amasa-estudio\/","title":{"rendered":"From Neglect to Renewal: CTM Culhuac\u00e1n in Mexico City by AMASA Estudio"},"content":{"rendered":"

How a Mexico City Housing Complex Reclaimed Its Public Space<\/h3>\r\n

In the southeast of Mexico City lies CTM Culhuac\u00e1n, the city\u2019s largest public housing complex, built in the 1970s to serve over 100,000 working-class residents. Once a flagship of Mexico\u2019s social housing efforts, its public spaces\u2014intended to promote community life\u2014had fallen into disrepair after decades of unclear administration and neglect.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-1\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Photography by Andres Cedillo, Courtesy of AMASA Estudio.<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-8\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Photography by Zaickz Moz, Courtesy of AMASA Estudio.<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-18\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Photography by Andres Cedillo, Courtesy of AMASA Estudio.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

One such space was a crumbling plaza near the complex\u2019s tenth section, bordered by two public schools. Once meant to be a vibrant communal area, it had become a hotspot for informal use, waste, and antisocial behavior. The deterioration of such spaces across the city reflects a broader issue: shared areas in public housing often suffer from legal and administrative ambiguity, making their maintenance and governance uncertain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-2\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Photography byAndres Cedillo, Courtesy of AMASA Estudio.<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-12\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Zaickz Moz, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-7\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

In response, Infonavit\u2014the national housing agency\u2014launched a design-build initiative in 2023, commissioning upgrades at several sites, including CTM Culhuac\u00e1n. The winning proposal for Culhuac\u00e1n came from AMASA Estudio<\/a>, led by architects Andrea L\u00f3pez and Agust\u00edn Pereyra. Instead of imposing a top-down vision, the team consulted with residents to understand their needs and aspirations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-19\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-20\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-14\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Zaickz Moz, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The resulting design features a colorful central pavilion that anchors the space, flanked by basketball courts, a calisthenics area, a children\u2019s playground, and a 600-meter running track that doubles as a pedestrian loop. Designed in collaboration with Desarrolladora de Ideas y Espacios, the project prioritized accessibility, budget efficiency, and environmental sustainability\u2014adding rainwater infiltration zones and adapting to natural foot traffic patterns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-21\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Gerardo Reyes Bustamante,
\r\nCourtesy AMASA Estudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-16\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-11\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Gerardo Reyes Bustamante,
\r\nCourtesy AMASA Estudio<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Through simple materials\u2014steel, concrete, and color\u2014the team transformed a forgotten lot into a lively public space. Today, it hosts students after school, families on weekends, and neighbors of all ages throughout the week. More importantly, it has become a symbol of community pride.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-3\"<\/a>

\u00a9Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-22\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-uh-infonavit-ctm-culhuacan-amasa-estudio-23\"<\/a>

\u00a9 Andres Cedillo, Courtesy AMASA
\r\nEstudio<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

This small but powerful intervention shows how design, when done with empathy and participation, can revive not just physical spaces, but the social bonds that hold communities together.<\/p>\r\n\n\t\t