Author(s): Paul Mosley & Diana Garcia
Globally, post-industrial urban territories face many challenges spanning environmental degradation, urban fragmentation, and socioeconomic disparities across various scales. The transformation of industrial sites has engendered expansive urban voids as industrial activities migrate from city centers to the periphery. Furthermore, infrastructure limitations and regulations have further exacerbated this spatial restructuring. This is especially true in Mexico City and Cleveland, Ohio, despite their distinct geographical and cultural contexts. Both cities grapple with the social and economic aftermath of industrial decline, necessitating interventions in urban revitalization, nature-oriented design approaches, and resilient urban strategies. This paper emphasizes the scale and scope of architecture in addressing these urban voids, which have created a rift between marginalized communities and essential resources and services available in other parts of the city.Architectural education and the role of future professionals are central to enhancing the quality of life in these communities. Through a comparative analysis of key industrial sites in both cities, this study explores three primary questions: How does architectural form contribute to revitalizing post-industrial spaces? How can architecture leverage the transitory nature of urban voids to facilitate decarbonization in previously carbon-intensive zones? What are the similarities and differences between the deindustrialization and revitalization of these zones in the two cities?Post-industrial voids in both contexts offer opportunities for architectural intervention, including green infrastructure, inclusive urban development, and adaptive reuse. Redevelopment requires physical restructuring and reshaping the social fabric within affected communities. The study utilizes interviews, site visits, project analysis, and environ- mental data within the architectural design studio context to examine the multifaceted challenges and prospects in post- industrial urban environments.Given these complex challenges — such as scarcity, air pollution, and the urban heat island effect stemming from the over-extraction of groundwater — along with opportunities to decarbonize urban areas, improve energy efficiency, and adapt to climate-related challenges play a crucial role in addressing climate change in the post-industrial landscapes of Mexico City and Cleveland. This paper advocates for architectural education to cultivate a commitment among emerging architects toward devising innovative solutions that address the social imperatives of communities residing within and around urban voids. These endeavors are necessary for nurturing resilient and equitable urban futures.Furthermore, the exchange of pedagogical practices and collaborative learning between these cities holds the potential for cross-cultural knowledge and collective problem-solving. The convergence of teaching and collaborative endeavors across diverse urban landscapes serves as a platform for nurturing resilient and equitable urban futures that prioritizethe well-being of all ecological communities.
Volume Editors
ISBN
978-1-944214-49-4