CASE STUDY

Chapu 8

chapultepec | Tijuana, mexico

Tijuana is one of Mexico’s busiest and most traversed cities in the world; it wasn’t long for this city to thrive and take ownership of this new lifestyle. It began in the 1950s with an urban plan meant to drastically change the fabric of Tijuana to allow for immense growth. Tijuana saw an increase exponentially, not just in industrial and construction fields, but also in the agricultural areas. The port of San Diego & Tijuana is the busiest crossing port between Mexico and USA, seeing thousands of travelers every day. This thriving travel port allows natural foot traffic allowing Tijuana to cater to these travelers with new activities in the city, redirecting travelers to explore the leisure this city has to offer. It was used as an advantage to curate experiences for locals and foreigners alike. One of these experiences comes in the form of leisure walks, which were taken into reality by the creation and design of Paseo Chapultepec or Chapultepec Leisure Walk, where people will find all sorts of activities from sports, gastronomy, parks, and more. This bustling community is what helps target people to come and enjoy the pleasurable and accommodating activities it has to offer. With a thriving tourist community, housing development has thrived and exploded, with many locations becoming architecturally pleasing to stay in through the use of courtyards, natural ventilation, and even intricate design features.

The project located in the interior fraccionamiento (division) Chapultepec looks at how to accommodate a large space feeling into an actual small space, making them feel large, working with less than five hundred square feet these spaces have a bedroom, restroom, and as well a closet. This takes on the idea of maximizing every foot to allow for all amenities to be included. Small living was purposely designed to convey a large space feeling, by tapping onto the formal qualities of Japanese small space designs.

MURAL BY PERLA CASTILLON

Historical Site

Tijuana a city of Northern Baja California boomed in infrastructure and agriculture during the decades of the 40s and 50s. This quite town of about about twelve thousand people in the early 40s quadruple by the 50s securing a workforce for the development of the city’s growth. President Lazero Cardenas agreed to give close to two thousand acres of land that belong to the federal government. These lands were given to the state for the growth and wellness of Tijuana’s habitants.

Tijuana’s Urban Planning 1950’s

Existing Neighborhoods during the 1970's

Old Tijuana’s Irrigation System

Supply of Water Reservoirs

Source: Tijuana Government

Historical Photos of Tijuana

Hipodromo

Tijuana's River Bed

Paris Skyline Tijuana 1949

Playas de Tijuana 1959

Border between Tijuana & San Ysidro

View of San Ysidro, San Diego from Tijuana

Cardboard Houses 1970s

Zona Rio early Construction

Tijuana in early 1970s

Tijuana 1975

Center of the City with Agua Calientes Tower

Multifamily Housing

Source: Tijuana Government

Chapultepec of Tijuana

Chapultepec came to be at the decade of the 1950s, it is a town within Tijuana, and neighbors the Hipodromo. While The Leisure walk of Chapultepec in Tijuana, is a booming mall that came to be in the at the rise of the development of Tijuana. Now the location has become a popular attraction for gastronomy, luxurious housing, and tourist. The location is now busting with international brands taking over retail space and appealing to the community around it. Its popularity of the location has greatly increase due to its closure stadiums, parks, and eateries.

Colonia Chapultepec

Paseo Chapultepec

Project Proposal

The project works on making small spaces feel large by having as minimal walls as possible as each space is less than five hundred square feet these spaces have a bedroom, restrooms, and as well a closet. This takes on the idea of how to maximize every single foot to allow for all amenities to be included.

Construction Phase

Interior

Exterior

Ext. Courtyards

PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY OWNER