Taller 13 and Greenpeace Mexico: H2O Cuenca

The architects from Mexican design collaborative Taller 13, devoted to protecting the environment right from its inception, have created “H2O Cuenca” together with the volunteers from Greenpeace Mexico; the installation is formed of 15,200 samples of water collected in the Valle de México to tell the story of the water in this huge metropolis that is the capital of Mexico.



Are we really aware of how important water is for our very survival? This question doesn't just apply to rural contexts - it's fundamental for city dwellers as well, the people living in Mexico City for example, where only 10-15% of the city's wastewater is effectively treated. 





Mextrópoli - international festival of architecture and the city in Mexico - has numerous events, and Elias Cattan from design collaborative Taller 13 arquitectura regenerativa, together with Greenpeace Mexico volunteers researched the quality of the waters in the basin of the Valle de México for presentation in this year's edition. Over the course of history, this area has gone through a series of changes - from a model of sharing of water, biological systems and the human being to an example of exploitation and lack of interest in the environmental heritage, leading to a deterioration in the quality of the water and of life in general.



Taller 13 and Greenpeace Mexico collected samples of water from the zone's river system, Río de la Renvancha, Río de la Piedad, Río Magdalena and the canals of Xochimilco. You can see the condition of these waterways in the videos filmed as the samples were collected, where pictures speak far louder than words.





The players collected a total of 1,900 litres of water in 15,200 samples, which they then used to form a huge topographic model of the “cuenca” - the basin - in the Museo Interáctivo de Economía (interactive museum of economics - MIDE) in Mexico City, an independent, not-for-profit organisation. 
The results is a sculpture enhanced by video mapping to tell the story of water management in the basin and its present that requires a radical rethink to save both the urban and suburban ecosystems in addition to the city's wellbeing and very survival. 



The exhibition “¡Aguas! ¿Qué onda con el agua en la Ciudad” open until 27 March, is enhanced by a two-day symposium to discuss the problems and the possible solutions for the “cuenca” and offers workshops on water for the whole family.

Christiane Bürklein

Exhibition: “¡Aguas! ¿Qué onda con el agua en la Ciudad?” 
from 5 to 27 March 2016
curated by Taller 13 (http://www.taller13.com/) with Greenpeace Mexico
Location: Museo Interáctivo de Economía (MIDE), Mexico City
Images: Courtesy of Taller 13
Video: https://vimeo.com/147033554   Río Revancha
Drone Rio revancha  https://youtu.be/hZB9rnvpty4    
https://vimeo.com/147033292  Río Piedad 
https://vimeo.com/141613939  first video of the campaign
https://vimeo.com/157657670  final video