Taller Capital Wins MCHAP for Water-Responsive Architecture in Mexico City

Mexico City, built on the drained lakebed of Tenochtitlán, sinks 20 cm annually and faces severe water shortages and floods. Since 2010, Taller Capital has developed 'hydro-urban acupuncture' projects integrating hydraulic infrastructure with public spaces. In Ecatepec, a hillside landfill became a terraced park filtering rainwater. In Tecámac, a traffic median was transformed into a 2.6 km linear park with wastewater treatment. In Nogales, gabion walls reinforce a dam, and a floodable plaza compensates for inadequate capacity. The firm recently won the MCHAP for Emerging Architecture, a major award in the Americas. Founders José Pablo Ambrosi and Loreta Castro Reguera state their designs stem from reading urban, environmental, and social contexts. They are now working on self-built housing, multifamily residences, water gardens, and infrastructural public spaces across Mexico, aiming to mitigate water, waste, and geological vulnerabilities.