Ciudad Juarez Media Park Competition

Ciudad Juarez Media Park Competition

Project location: Juarez, Mexico
Client: NA
Design: 2010
Project Cost: NA

The concept for the Media Park in Ciudad Juarez originates in its geographical and political context as a border city and the duality of its relationship with El Paso, Texas, where despite a common geography the two cities are defined by a language of separation and discontinuity.

The Media Park as a metaphor of this relationship forms the starting point for the design, but where the Rio Grande serves as the line of separation at Ciudad Juarez- El Paso, the metaphorical “river” of the Media Park is occupied by the graffiti and skate parks, forming together the “urban” spine that diagonally bisects the site, the activity center of the project.

The duality of the built forms of the Library/ Media building and the Community/ Auditorium building slide past each other across this central spine, bridged over and connected by the Gallery and Cafeteria volumes. The public urban park is below grade creating a separation from the street level and a visual sense of place. The first floor is raised above grade with a landscaped area mediating between the building and street level accommodating areas for passive activities including the Forum.