Ciudad Satélite: A Benchmark of Urban Planning in Latin America

We have all heard about Mexico City. From its history, its monuments, traffic and the great urban sprawl it represents. So much so that today it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, encompassing territories beyond its political boundaries. But before becoming what

it is today, nestled in the neighboring municipality of Naucalpan almost 60 years ago, the idea of creating a different type of urban settlement arose; something that was a turning point in Mexico but different causes led to it becoming... one more. Stay to find out how the Ciudad

Satélite project arose and how it was a benchmark for Latin American urbanism. This is Urbanopolis and welcome. "Mexico City, The Latin American Giant" To arrive at the necessity of having to build a city outside the city, it is necessary to understand

what happened to the city that is far away. Yes, we are talking about the beloved Mexico City or "chilangolandia" for those of us who do not live there. Built on what was Lake Texcoco, Mexico City has undergone various transformations, having in its pre-Hispanic stage a population

of up to 300,000 people in 1521, the year in which there was a "change of administration" going on to have about 500 thousand inhabitants in 1900 and 50 years later, reaching the not modest three million inhabitants, which at that time represented 10% of the

country's population. Although this number pales compared to the almost 9 million registered in 2020. On the other hand, studies show that while the population of Mexico City has grown at rates of 1.1%, the urban sprawl has grown approximately 3.3% due

to the fact that there were no enough vertical housing projects and everyone aspired to single-family homes, wanting their little garden house for Sunday roasts like a good 50's American stereotype... but that's a topic for another video. As a result, during

the 1950s, a decree was issued to prevent the construction of new neighborhoods in Mexico City so that the population would not continue to concentrate within its limits, so the solution of the architects and investors was

to build in the adjoining state, the State of Mexico, without imagining that that place would become the population monster full of "tamales" and "sonideros" that it is today. The growing population of Mexico City was largely due to economic changes

made during the first half of the 20th century in the face of a world plunged into economic ruin by the 1929 crisis in the US and later World War II. Several Latin American governments resorted to an economic model known as

"import substitution" that consisted of protectionist measures for the economy such as high tariffs, subsidies to public companies and strict control of the exchange rate, causing an era known in the country as the "Mexican Miracle" where the Gross

Domestic Product grew at a rate of 13% to 16% per year and in this context the Mexican middle class grew, a target audience that required new spaces to live. "A City That Wasn't a City... In Its Time"

First of all, we must clarify that we are not talking about an entire city but about a development that was intended to be a total revolution in Mexican urban planning. That said, the mythical name of Satellite City has several possible origins from a comparison with the

space race between the US and the USSR, however, the official version comes from an interview with Mario Pani, one of the architects responsible of the project and almost a national icon, who says that the name refers to the creation of urban centers outside the big cities that were

connected by car through large avenues, in the purest style of Le Corbusier, the same one who wanted to destroy Paris to build highways. With these connections I would make this new development appear like a satellite of urban centers based on the idea of ​​the

big suburbs seen in US cities where you didn't have to go out unless you went to work. The place chosen to carry out the satellite project was a property belonging to the "Los Pirules" farm located in the municipality of Naucalpan in the State of Mexico. The then

president of Mexico Miguel Alemán, remembered for having promised that no Mexican would lack a cigar, a Cadillac and a ticket for the bullfights... something that I know my grandparents never received... whoever owned this farm donated 250 hectares for the construction of this new

city, but not before leaving a few hectares for himself and being able to build his retirement home once he left the presidency. The project was conceived to attract a growing middle class benefiting from the Mexican miracle as well as take pressure off the increasingly overcrowded Mexico

City or Federal District as it was known at the time. This development began to be built in 1958 and the design was in charge of the urban workshop of the Mexican architect Mario Pani. Pani, famous for the construction of the Alemán and Juárez Housing Units, where he opted for

vertical models, is also remembered for the creation of the University City of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, one of the most important in America and the world. Leading the project was José Luís Cuevas, another of the great

Mexican architects, along with men of stature such as Domingo García Ramos, Miguel de la Torre Carbó and Víctor Villa. The distribution of this space was based on the urban concepts of Herman Herrey who proposed the novel idea of ​​superblocks clearly larger than those already observed in

Mexico City and the same ones that would be used in the creation of Cancun years later. The proposal contemplated the separation of land uses by marking housing areas as commercial ones, as seen in American cities. In turn, the housing area was subdivided

according to the needs of the population from the middle class and even upper class, which was its target market, thus creating lots of different sizes but whose prices were deliberately set to prevent prices will rise due to the "invisible hand"

of the market. Because as the saying goes, "speculate and accumulate." In the design of the superblocks, the creation of green areas for the recreation of the population was contemplated, as well as a secondary function of delimitation in order to avoid an excessive expansion that, spoiler,

these areas no longer exist. For the design of the roads, they continued to be inspired by Herrey in a continuous circulation based on almost circular organic forms where the traffic of vehicles was not interrupted by traffic lights or intersections. That is why

the corners are 90 degrees but rather curved, thus resembling the shape of a vegetable leaf. Likewise, to avoid returns by vehicles, the project contemplated the creation of 31 circuits that cross at different points throughout the Satellite City and as a curiosity, the

names of the circuits were given according to different professions. Circuits such as "actors", "surgeons", "musicians" and even "navigators" reflected the idea of ​​being a space for the Mexican middle class and upper class of the mid-50s. In addition, two macro circuits were created that surrounded

the entire city, the so-called Oriente and Poniente Beltway. All the circuits were designed in one direction to encourage continuous circulation. In the pedestrian case, pedestrian walkways were created that interconnected each circuit, also favoring pedestrian circulation.

The new Satellite City would be located 15 kilometers from the center of Mexico City and to reach it, the new Peripheral Ring and part of the new highway that connects the Mexican capital with the city of Querétaro were used. These convenient avenues for the

plan of only going out to work represented a problem when leaving the Satellite City in two sections and with this they will cause an eventual traffic jam, thus breaking with the idea of continuous circulation... The solution? The classic construction of elevated bridges that connected

the east and west sections allowing the circulation of both vehicles and people. "The Famous 7 Satellite Towers… Wait, is that 5?" To establish the vision for the future that Mario Pani intended to face with the creation of his new

Satellite City, a work was entrusted to the Mexican engineer and architect Luis Barragán, famous for winning the Pritzker Prize in 1980 and creator of buildings based on light and colors . Mexican nuances who worked together with the sculptor Mathias Goeritz a

work that would stand out for its visual impact both from a distance and even while in motion. The idea of ​​Barragán and Goeritz was the creation of seven hollow triangular columns at different heights, the tallest being 200 meters, taking the throne from the tallest structure

in Mexico, which until then kept the Latin American Tower located in the heart of the City . of Mexico and that had been inaugurated in 1956, but due to a budgetary issue only five columns were built, leaving the highest of only 52 meters and the lowest of

only 30 and that is still something impressive to see every time you pass by . These iconic columns stand on a slightly inclined concrete plate in the middle of Periferico Norte avenue, right at the entrance to Ciudad Satélite and, due to their triangular shape, end

in a visual finish that cuts the horizon. The colors chosen initially proposed by Goeritz were shades of orange but finally he decided on colors close to white, yellow and ocher although over the years they were undergoing modifications such as

those given in 1967 prior to the Olympic Games held in the ' 68 in Mexico City that Goeritz's original idea of ​​orange tones was changed and it was not until 1974 that he decided on the current color scheme: two white towers, one red, one blue and the last one in ocher yellow. These

towers are so iconic that anyone who has traveled through the area marvels at the impressive view they generate. They are so marked in the identity of this that they were the focus both in films such as "El Barrendero" by the famous Mexican comedian Mario Moreno "Cantinflas" from

1974 as well as in the music video for "La Ingrata" by the Mexican group also from Café Tacuba. "And They Were Happy… For A While" When the commercialization of lots began in 1958, Ciudad Satélite was promoted as the city of

tomorrow and with announcements such as "you will not have to leave Ciudad Satélite". The initial sale began with 10,000 lots at fixed prices but varied according to the size of the lot to prevent developers from taking advantage of the area's great appeal. The success was resounding and thousands of

people who lived in the bustling Mexico City went to live in this suburb built in the style of Uncle Sam and everything seemed that the dream had come true. A city outside of another city, you just had to go out to work, although I'm telling you that

it wasn't like that since those who have passed through the area will agree with me that it is not even close to the ideal place that Pani thought but then, ¿ What happened? When we say that Ciudad Satélite was a resounding failure, we are not referring to design or functionality, but rather a political and economic issue,

because you already know that if something is successful, someone else is going to want to take advantage of it. As we said before, this satellite was built in Naucalpan, a municipality belonging to the State of Mexico that is not the same as Mexico City but a separate state and that can become somewhat confusing more than anything

for those who do not live in Mexico, Oh well. In the State of Mexico there were no regulations prohibiting the construction of new neighborhoods as if there were in Mexico City. Due to this, when Ciudad Satélite and its fixed sales prices were promoted despite the high

demand, the fractionators filed complaints and lawsuits for alleged "unfair competition". In addition , the government of the State of Mexico, mainly the governor and his secretary of works, blocked the original project of the master plan allowing construction in surrounding areas around 1962.

Also due to the almost null laws regarding urban development, green areas that were contemplated for the delimitation of Ciudad Satélite were urbanized during the coming decades, subdivisions were created designed so that real estate speculation

could do its thing and only the wealthiest classes could access. This growth continued during the following decades until it became an extension of Mexico City until today this area, which is still iconic due to the views of its towers, was overshadowed by

surrounding constructions and advertising, as well as a prevailing climate of insecurity, overpopulation and pollution and despite the fact that there is already greater control over urban development in the area, little or almost nothing can be done now to undo the damage that political and economic decisions

caused on the design that was intended to be a watershed in the Mexican urbanism. And you, do you know of another similar project that has succeeded or failed in your country? Was it inevitable that this would happen ? What would you have done differently? Leave your answers below in the comments and don't

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