2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 38

ul10
4. Estación San José
TOLUCA DE LERDO, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO
In Toluca de Lerdo, the capital city of Mexico's most densely
populated state, Madrid-based FRPO replaced a former parking
lot with a new mixed-use concrete structure envisioned
as a community hub for the area. Behind a lightweight
metallic screen, Estación San José contains several levels
of parking, office and working areas, as well as commercial
spaces. The rooftop offers a publicly accessible garden with
views of the historic San José Cathedral, the Cosmovitral
Botanical Garden, and Nevado de Toluca mountain.
Founded in 2005 by Pablo Oriol and Fernando Rodriguez,
FRPO negotiated extensively with Mexico's National Institute
of Anthropology and History, the bureau that oversees
the country's historic built environment, to minimize the
building's visual impact on the nearby historic district. The
white metal screen not only gives the building a diaphanous
presence in the skyline, it also shades the interior, with large
5. Fire Station 67
RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA
In response to California's increasing wildfire threat, the town of
Rancho Mission Viejo, the Orange County Fire Authority, and
2G3R teamed up to provide this historic ranching community
with an interim fire station. Seattle-based architecture firm
Wittman Estes designed the station as a modular facility,
prefabricated off-site from 10 pieces, and clad in fireproof
corrugated steel. The modular strategy sped up design, documentation,
permitting, and construction: groundbreaking began
less than a year after the design process started, and the
4,667-square-foot (434 sq m) facility was done in six months.
The apparatus bay is open to the air, eliminating the expense
of a large air exhaust system. The bay doubles as a multi-use
space for exercising, gathering, and events. A trellis shades the
central courtyard. Founded in 2012 by principals Matt Wittman
and Jody Estes-later joined by principal Ashton Wesely-
Wittman Estes used a " kit of parts " approach so the building
can be easily disassembled, relocated, and reconfigured as
needed, with ultimate plans to turn it into an environmental
learning center. Fire Station 67 opened in 2022.
cutouts offering more views of the area's historic sights.
Estación San José was completed in 2020.
6. Las Americas Social Housing
LEÓN, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO
To help curtail sprawling development on its urban fringe, the
city of León and its housing agency commissioned
Brooklyn-based SO-IL to design a cost-effective, multifamily
residential prototype that would appeal to people accustomed
to single-family houses. Founded in 2008 by Jing Liu and Florian
Idenburg, SO-IL arranged 60 condominiums on six floors
that surround two internal courtyards, providing units with
cross-ventilation.
To enhance a sense of privacy similar to that of asingle-family
house, the designers ensured that no two units would face
each other, organizing them along a single-loaded corridor
that looks out to the courtyards. Each floor shares patios and
outdoor walkways to foster community. Units range from one
to three bedrooms. Fins provide shading, and the concrete
structure's high thermal mass moderates temperatures. Most
units were sold at below-market rates. Close to schools, shops,
parks, and public transit, Las Americas was completed in 2021.
38
URBAN LAND SUMMER 202 4
NIC LEHOUX
LGM STUDIO
LORENA DARQUEA
2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land
