Urban Morphology in Mexico City

 

Mexico City is a giant laboratory of urban morphology. Its 20 million residents live in neighborhoods based on a wide spectrum of plans. The colonial center was built on the foundations of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec empire. The old city was on an island in Lake Texcoco. The lake was drained to prevent flooding as the city expanded.

 

 

The Federal neighborhood evokes the radiating streets of Palmanova, a town designed by Vicenzo Scamozzi in Renaissance Italy.

 

 

 

Nezahualcóyotl, or Ciudad Neza, is a municipality of one million people within Mexico City's metropolitan area. Its street plans follow a standardized layout — public amenities with green space confined within mega-blocks.

 

 

 

The rich and famous tend to prefer organic forms, and tend not to economize on water for their gardens. In the wealthy neighborhood of Jardines del Pedregal, some houses have heliports.

 

 

 

Planners chose a repetitive style for their unfortunate clients in Fuentes de Aragón. This neighborhood is part of Ecatepec de Morelos, which — like Ciudad Neza — is a municipality within Greater Mexico City. The entire city doesn't follow an extreme grid, but neighborhoods like Fuentes de Aragón are common.

 

 

 

In recent years, Mexico's federal government has invested substantially in housing for the poor. Its programs, such as those beautifully photographed by Livia Corona, have rehoused over two million families in massive developments like Los Héroes Tecámac in Ecatepec de Morelos.

 

 

 

Other developments — like Geovillas Santa Bárbara — have curved streets and more diverse layouts, but they are usually for higher-income populations.

 

 

 

 

Xico is bordered by Chalco Lake (above) and the Santa Catarina Mountains (below). Here, urban development takes place without much formal planning. Green space and public amenities seem a luxury.

 

 

 

More below:

http://www.thepolisblog.org/2012/12/urban-morphology-in-mexico-city.html

Awesome photos, ColDayMan--the immensity and density of Mexico City is stunning!  (In fact, many of the photos resemble pictures of computer chips rather than high-up aerial panoramas of one of the planet's greatest megacities.)  Shocking and sobering; I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or simply admire what is.  :-o 

Wow, this is fascinating. Thanks so much for posting, ColDay!