Boxity will be a public space and recreational project located in Monterrey, Mexico which arises from the need for a different place to house gastronomic and design proposals on different scales. Stores selling local products as varied as those generated by different disciplines of design, art, food, health care, among others, will coexist in this independent place, located to the west part of the city.

The complex is developed on a plot of 9,924 m2 considering large open spaces with native vegetation (practically the one existing on the site), and patios for different activities: children's play areas, beer gardens and theaters and venues for musical, artistic or gastronomic events of different scales.

The construction of the spaces will be quick and practical: 83 shipping containers will be placed on the ground, fitted with a complementary metallic structural system. These containers will be suitable for different uses creating different areas: in one hand for interior spaces such as product exhibition and stores, restaurants, cafeterias or micro-office spaces and on the other hand terraces related to big or small patios and other outdoor spaces, areas for pets and spots for extreme sports.

In its upper part, all the containers will have an energy system through solar panels and another simple system of vegetation to provide shade that will help save energy for each unit. The containers will be stacked in 2, 3 or even 4 levels interconnected by stairs, ramps and exterior corridors, creating the sensation of a small city within the city. Some lookout points will be located at the top of towers made also with containers as urban landmarks.

The circulation walkways will be accompanied in parts with pergolas to provide shade or lattices to provide privacy. Also helping to frame sequences of the surrounding outer space as the user walks through these walkways.

The materials will maintain a relationship with the semi-arid landscape to the west of the city and can be obtained locally. Hence why they are proposed. The idea is also to relate the building with the landscape through the tones and textures that imaginarily refer to the site and at the same time use local resources and accessible materials and constructive feasibility with local labor.

The project will create a diverse and permeable urban image of an open building typology with several entrances and big panoramic openings with the capacity to transform over time through art interventions made directly on the containers. This project will bring a new way of enjoy outdoor life for the city.

Credits:  

Project: Boxity

Architecture: S-AR

Website: www.s-ar.mx

Location: Monterrey, Mexico.

Architects in charge: Cesar Guerrero, Ana Cecilia Garza.

Collaborators: Carlos Valdez, Marisol González, Diego Galarza.

Programe: Public Space & Local Market