all arquitectura unites a marginalised society with this sports court in valle de chalco, mexico

supported by manchester city football club, all arquitectura’s ‘la doce’ project is located in the municipality of valle de chalco, returning to the community a living space in one of the areas with the highest marginality and with one of the highest rates of violence at the outskirts of mexico city. conceived as a coordinated effort and an alliance of designers, architects, artists, civil organizations, and neighbors, the project is two independent spaces — sports court and pavilion — that beyond being isolated experiences, are linked through the activities they contain.

all aerial photos by zaickz moz

all arquitectura’s mix-use blue court of 15m x 25m is a compositional axis, an essential part of the project that proposes relocation according to the north-south axis, allowing greater use of it throughout the day. hosted between the streets sur 11 and sur 12, the property to intervene offers the opportunity to achieve the connection between both roads, allowing the visitor to make use of the space as a link, following the paths of people through space and areas surrounding.

an open pavilion ends in one of the edges of the field — under a large roof there are administrative area, a warehouse, restrooms, box area, and next to an area of multiple uses that will allow the constitution of workshops, classes and exhibitions that may be carried out at any time of the day no matter the weather conditions. this pavilion as a union of the adjoining properties: an abandoned library and an uninhabited land, with the intention for a future phase to relate and integrate both properties to the project.

a concrete platform, a vestige of the original field, is used as a large public square where the perspective and experiences of the many ethnic origins of which valle de chalco is constructed can be offered through artistic representations. the design integrates a large permeable area that allows the filtration of rainwater and thus the replenishment of the historic laguna de xico. the project obeys the ever-changing needs of a historically important area for the city and the valle de méxico which, through its people and its character, is part of a periphery always present, indomitable, but with open arms always.

all site photos by marcos betanzos

дocal kids looking at their future space

an open pavilion that integrates different uses and performances

all photos of the construction process by armando juárez

project info: 

architecture & design: all arquitectura

lighting project: brenda castillo garcía

design team: josemaria quintanilla, salvador guardado, alejandro guardado, eduardo ugalde & judith valerio

location: valle de chalco, méxico

program: a mix use court, administration office, box arena, children recreational area and facilities

construction: all arquitectura

construction year: 2018

surface area: 968 sqm

photography: aerial photographs — zaickz moz, site photographs — marcos betanzos, construction record — armando juárez

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom