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6.5.09 Arco Bicentenario Competition Entry — PROJECTS
The competition held to design an arc that celebrates 200 years of Independence and 100 years of revolutionary Mexico presents a historic opportunity, an opportunity that may be presented only once every 100 years.
The possibility of affecting the Avenida Paseo de la Reforma. The country’s most important for its symbolic value.
Our proposal provides the opportunity beyond the milestone that is suggested as a symbolic element of the celebration.
It uses this call to articulate two sections of the Avenida Paseo de la Reforma representing two moments in the history of Mexico: an arch, but not in form, but in its operation and logic. It combines two moments: the first, historic Mexico, the Mexico of the Reformation, and the second, the twentieth-century Mexico represented by the extension of the Avenue that houses or provides access to major museums, the zoo, the National Auditorium at Campo Marte and many other milestones …
Our proposal provides the opportunity beyond the milestone that is suggested as a symbolic element of the celebration.
It uses this call to articulate two sections of the Avenida Paseo de la Reforma representing two moments in the history of Mexico: an arch, but not in form, but in its operation and logic. It combines two moments: the first, historic Mexico, the Mexico of the Reformation, and the second, the twentieth-century Mexico represented by the extension of the Avenue that houses or provides access to major museums, the zoo, the National Auditorium at Campo Marte and many other milestones …
Consistent with its stage Progress logic built of the XX century which connects the flow of cars and buses efficiently. This project falls short, however, to the pedestrian, the cyclist, the handicapped: the inhabitant and the visitor in general.
XXI century intervention can and should rethink the relationship between citizens and this space, first to meet the urgent physical need more security, and then to address the need to articulate historical and symbolic Mexico’s past with its future in a form that incorporates the entire population.
XXI century intervention can and should rethink the relationship between citizens and this space, first to meet the urgent physical need more security, and then to address the need to articulate historical and symbolic Mexico’s past with its future in a form that incorporates the entire population.
Our project includes pedestrian public space as a premise: the epic social catalyst which promotes coexistence and respect. We propose to express metaphorically and literally pedestrian public space as the great articulator: cars and buses but not living define this space.
Finally we propose to raise the public space: the vertical and speed as metaphors are no longer exclusive privilege of a few. On Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, the Bicentennial Arch becomes the viewpoint from which to generate a new perspective, broader and more inclusive, a privilege available to all.
Finally we propose to raise the public space: the vertical and speed as metaphors are no longer exclusive privilege of a few. On Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, the Bicentennial Arch becomes the viewpoint from which to generate a new perspective, broader and more inclusive, a privilege available to all.