UH Infonavit Santa Fe Community Park by AMASA Estudio – Transforming Urban Landscapes in Mexico City

the western edge of Mexico City, the UH Infonavit Santa Fe Community Park, designed by AMASA Estudio in 2024, addresses one of the most challenging urban contexts in recent interventions. The housing unit sits on a ravine, with steep slopes that historically hindered connectivity, accessibility, and community engagement.

Situated at the southern edge of the unit, this triangular site connects two streets at different levels and adjoins a public sports facility, featuring a topographic drop of over six meters. Historically abandoned, the area suffered from deterioration, low usage, and a heightened sense of insecurity, exacerbated by fragmented land and poorly maintained infrastructure.

AMASA Estudio’s intervention focused on reclaiming this underutilized space through a comprehensive, community-centered design. The project introduced a 230 m² multipurpose room, restored children's play areas, incorporated a calisthenics space, and rehabilitated the sports court—the only facility still occasionally used.

The site’s challenging topography demanded innovative solutions. Rainwater runoff, frequent landslides, and water accumulation in low areas were addressed without removing the abundant existing vegetation of eucalyptus, pines, and colorines, which shaped the building's placement and design. The original concrete court, unstable and poorly drained, required significant adaptation to integrate safely with the surrounding landscape.

A circular architectural volume became the central gesture of the project. This shape respected the topography, preserved existing trees, minimized the building footprint, and allowed for terraced levels that harmonized with the landscape. Unlike conventional rectilinear forms, the circular plan maximized visibility, encouraged circulation, and eliminated blind corners, creating a continuous spiral-like park where public space and architecture intertwine.

All Photographs are works of Zaickz Moz, Gerardo Reyes Bustamante