Mexico City School Garden, Mexican Landscape, Architect, Project

Mexican Landscape Architecture : Garden Mexico City

Contemporary Mexican Educational Development – design by KVR Arquitectura De Paisaje

26 Aug 2008

School Garden Mexico City

Date built: 2007

Design: KVR Arquitectura De Paisaje

PROJECT: SCHOOL GARDEN
DATE: DEC 2007
LOCATION: MEXICO CITY

DESCRIPTION

The garden is located at the front facade entering through the security access from the main square, where a big apple tree complements the square, giving life to the seasons by its annual flowering, fruits and deciduous leaves.

From the plaza, the garden has an open character, with a grass area and a path that gradually rises.
As the topography rises, the garden becomes a “native forest”, with oaks, pines and alder, complemented by coverings of ferns and vinca, which leads to an open forum, with capacity of over 30 students “sitting in the woods.” The forum communicates with the building through a wide and secure staircase, passing over an existing water tank. A “patio” is created between the library and the staircase at ground level. A pond, a bench and a plaque honoring the founder of the school, makes an ideal space for relaxation and contemplation.

The garden master plan consists of a series of contrasting concepts: grass-forest, slope-flat, open-closed, positive-negative. Space is divided by 3 low walls, with the same direction and distance, interspersed and connected each other with metal plates, without competing with the weight of walls, which are the main themes of composition. The low walls divide and connect both parts of the garden, located in a phased manner, and have the function of retaining the slope.

The whole garden is made over stone and highly compacted dirt, without the presence of natural soil. Digging, loosening and mixing it with topsoil and compost, we create the basis for plant life, having a series of drains for optimal water filtering. The garden also has automatic irrigation system and lighting.
The main square and garden are an extension of the school due to their didactic purposes through data sheets at the foot of trees and plants. It is a garden where student generations are witness of plant development, encouraging environmental consciousness.

PROJECT: ROOF GARDEN
DATE: JAN 2008
LOCATION: MEXICO CITY

Mexico City School Garden – Description

At 2400 meters above sea level, in a residential area, a department of 390 square meters, has an outdoor space of 280 square meters.
The main purpose of the roof garden is to create an extension of interior, as an habitat, a living space where part of the daily activities are held, playground for children, mini soccer lawn, and a fully equipped dining and living space. This is protected by half shade roof covered with glass, and a suitable glass windscreen to protect the area against the prevailing winds. For weekend and leisure activities, there is a grill and a Jacuzzi with a small sun deck.

The layout is based on a set of parallel lines, the low walls function as containers that generate root space for grass, herbs and higher vegetation.
The 3 metal containers breaks the straight lines and generate enough root space for citrus trees and lavender, producing scent and flowers all year.
The necessary height of the Jacuzzi is softened by a mid-level covered with wooden deck. The herb garden is located underneath the window of the kitchen, opposite the grill.

The hard-scape materials for flooring and covering the low walls is a gray volcanic stone, some part of the playground and Jacuzzi are wooden deck
The metal plates are used for containers and separation between the grass and gravel stone
The plant palette consists of a weeping willow next to the Jacuzzi, where alders raise above the azaleas and eleagnus generating privacy and body. The citrus, Jazmin, lavender and sage are aromatic plants located near the seating area and the pennisetum grass generates continuous movement.

The storm drainage system is guaranteed by an horizontal layer on the slab with slopes toward the only two strainers.
Especially prepared substrate for rooting has a great capacity to drain and is always contained by geotextiles, and all areas of plantation have vertical drains.

School Garden Mexico images / information from KVR Arquitectura De Paisaje Aug 2008

Location: Mexico City, Mexico, North America