Forget skyscrapers, the new frontier in architecture are earthscrapers
21st century cities are known to have space issues, with population still growing and lacking of open spaces. In Mexico City a team of audacious architects have designed a 65-story glass and steel pyramid sitting in the middle of the city most historic plaza, that if ever built, it won’t be seen anywhere on the skyline.
Earthscrapers are not just the new buzz world in architecture and design. If developed the idea may start a truly new approach to solve most of the big city problems, like planning for population growth, preserving open space, and above all conserving energy and water, while also respecting the city past by integrating centuries of the city’s history into its newest landmarks.
Mexico City itself, is one of the Earth biggest megacities, the second-largest urban agglomeration in the western hemisphere, home to around 9 million people within its official 573 square miles and with about 19 million in the greater metropolitan area. Hence a perfect example of all the problems that many of the world major cities will have to face in a not so distant future.
Mexico City has also another peculiarity, its historic centre is composed of different layers of cities superimposed on top of each other. In fact when the Aztecs first came here, they started building their pyramids around the lake. Then when a new and bigger construction was conceived this was built on top and around one of the olds. In this sense the Aztec pyramids are structured as different layers of historical periods. This same aspect is share by other historical cities: Rome, Istanbul, Cairo, Jerusalem, to name a few.
Being able to incorporate a city past and future in a building is truly an ambitious design project. Although we wonder how many of Mexico City underground treasures will be destroyed in the building of such concept.
You can find out more about Mexico City Earthscraper at the following links:
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