Atitlán, Urban Fabric of Xochimilco

thesis | developed within the Emergent Technologies and Design (EmTech) programme at the Architectural Association (AA) in London, Atitlán reimagines the urban fabric of Xochimilco, Mexico City. a semi-floating system responds to urban growth while supporting the vulnerable aquatic landscape. in collaboration with Deniz Ulukoy and Fabiana Aja.

Physical models of semi-floating urban components displayed as an architectural study. — 2024

the thesis proposes a semi-floating urban fabric for Xochimilco in Mexico City. environmental information - including water pollution, flood proneness, surface temperature, farmland activity and canal-water velocity - is mapped and weighted to identify an appropriate area for intervention.

Layered maps compare environmental conditions to select an intervention site in Xochimilco.

the selected territory is reorganised through network analysis and evolutionary generation of new canal systems. the resulting islands are subdivided and used as a framework for fixed and floating components whose morphology, porosity and material distribution are iteratively developed.

Network-generation diagrams trace the development of a proposed canal and island system.

Diagrams compare island subdivisions, building morphology and structural optimisation.

Fabrication documentation showing physical prototypes and robotic or additive manufacturing.

the final morphologies are structurally optimised and physically prototyped. the project connects urban-scale data analysis with form finding, structural optimisation and robotic / additive fabrication as parts of one continuous research workflow.