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Kinetic Glass Façade Integrating Community Market with Sustainable Urban Connectivity

Author:
Fabrizio Vignettes Beristain
Kinetic Glass Façade Integrating Community Market with Sustainable Urban Connectivity
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A kinetic glass façade interacts with solar patterns while incorporating diverse community spaces, fostering connectivity and engagement in a bustling urban environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Kinetic elements of the façade adjust to solar patterns for enhanced energy efficiency.
02
The building integrates a market at the subway exit, promoting community interaction.
03
Elevated lobby space simplifies access to underground bus hangars and offices.
04
Landscaping is incorporated into vertical and horizontal surfaces for environmental integration.
05
The design references Pre-Hispanic geometric forms through its layered panel structure.

The high-rise building in Texcoco is a response to the reconfiguration of Mexico City’s international airport. Located near the Eastern Passenger Bus Terminal, the design aims to celebrate the rich architectural history of Pre-Hispanic Mexico. Its overall concept intertwines historical elements with modern functionality to create a structure that serves both transitional and community needs.

Design Concept
The design focuses on key architectural elements such as open-close, up-under, exterior-interior, scale, and proportion. These principles give the building its form, echoing the geometric patterns seen in Pre-Hispanic pyramids. The arrangement of panels and slopes not only pays tribute to historical architecture but also fosters a sense of connectivity among existing and new urban elements.

Site Context
Positioned strategically near TAPO, the building enhances the bustling transit hub. A market is integrated at the perimeter of the subway exit, encouraging interactions among tourists and locals. There are two main access points that lead visitors to a lobby that rises seven meters above ground. This upward movement creates a welcoming feeling while also accommodating below-ground spaces for bus hangars and TAPO's offices.

Materiality and Structure
Key materials include glass, which forms the façade, and a self-supporting framework. The use of glass allows natural light to flood the interior, encouraging an open atmosphere. The façade acts as a filter for sunlight, improving energy efficiency while maintaining visual engagement with the surroundings.

Kinetic Design Elements
Kinetic features respond to solar patterns, enhancing both the building's environmental performance and its visual dynamics. Landscaping is intentionally integrated throughout the design, promoting a connection to nature amid the urban setting. Pathways are designed for easy navigation, linking public areas to vertical circulation with the aim of improving safety and user experience.

In such a project, the combination of cultural reference and practical design emerges clearly in the thoughtful details. Each aspect is chosen to support both the architectural narrative and the diverse needs of the users, creating a functional yet meaningful space.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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