Rainfall Buries a Mega-Airport in Mexico

The article discusses the work of architect Gustavo Echeverría, who is leading a project to restore and revitalize the Lake Texcoco ecosystem in Mexico City. The lake was once a major source of water for the city but has been largely degraded due to human activities.

Echeverría's approach to restoration is based on a philosophy of "living engineering" or "soft infrastructure," which prioritizes flexibility, resilience, and harmony with nature. He believes that traditional approaches to urban planning and engineering can be too rigid and neglect the needs of the natural world.

Instead, Echeverría's project incorporates innovative design elements such as green roofs, rain gardens, and wetlands, which work together to absorb excess water and reduce stormwater runoff. The lake itself is being restored through a series of smaller, interconnected ecosystems that provide habitats for local wildlife.

The project has already achieved significant results, including the creation of over 1.4 million square meters of green space and the absorption of more than 1.2 billion liters of water per year. Additionally, the restoration efforts have improved air quality, reduced pollution, and provided new recreational spaces for locals.

Echeverría's approach to urban planning is seen as a model for other cities facing similar environmental challenges. He believes that by prioritizing harmony with nature and incorporating innovative design elements, cities can become more sustainable, resilient, and beautiful places to live.

Key points from the article:

* Gustavo Echeverría is leading a project to restore Lake Texcoco ecosystem in Mexico City.
* The lake was once a major source of water for the city but has been largely degraded due to human activities.
* Echeverría's approach prioritizes "living engineering" or "soft infrastructure," which emphasizes flexibility, resilience, and harmony with nature.
* Innovative design elements such as green roofs, rain gardens, and wetlands are being used to absorb excess water and reduce stormwater runoff.
* The project has already achieved significant results, including the creation of over 1.4 million square meters of green space and the absorption of more than 1.2 billion liters of water per year.
* Echeverría's approach is seen as a model for other cities facing similar environmental challenges.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of innovative approaches to urban planning and engineering in addressing environmental challenges, particularly in cities where natural ecosystems are being degraded or destroyed.

I'm loving this eco-friendly project in Mexico City ! Gustavo Echeverría's "living engineering" approach is so refreshing - it's all about working with nature instead of fighting it. I mean, who needs rigid old ways when you can have flexible and resilient green spaces that absorb excess water? The fact that they've created over 1.4 million square meters of green space is incredible - that's like a whole lotta trees! And the best part is, it's not just good for the environment, but also for local wildlife and people. I'm definitely gonna be keeping an eye on this project and hoping to see more cities adopt similar approaches

I'm so tired of all these feel-good articles about architects saving the world with their fancy designs . I mean, sure, Gustavo Echeverría's project is cool and all, but let's be real, this stuff should have been done 20 years ago when the lake was still in decent shape .

And don't even get me started on the terminology – "living engineering" sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie . Can't they just call it what it is: environmental conservation?

But hey, I guess it's good that people are starting to take notice and care about the environment again. Maybe this will inspire others to follow suit and make some real changes . Still, I wish we had more articles about the flaws in these kinds of projects – like, what about the costs? Who's footing the bill for all these fancy green roofs and wetlands?

omg this architect dude is literally genius he's all about creating spaces that work with nature not against it you know like how we're always talking about climate change and sustainability but someone's actually doing something about it lake texcoco was like a total disaster before but now it's thriving and people are enjoying the green space too 1.4 million square meters of green space is HUGE i wish our city would do something like that we need more lakes and parks and less pollution

this is kinda cool that they're trying to revive lake texcoco, but at the same time it's also a bit worrying that so many people have messed up our planet already... like what can we expect if this one doesn't work out too? still, i gotta give props to gustavo for his innovative approach, who knows maybe cities can be more sustainable and beautiful places to live?

Ugh, have you guys ever noticed how hard it is to navigate this forum? I'm trying to read about some architect who's doing some cool stuff with lake restoration, but the layout of this page is all wonky again . Can't they just make it so that related threads show up in a reasonable order?

Anyway, back to Echeverría... his approach to "living engineering" sounds pretty interesting. I love how he's thinking outside the box and trying to find ways to work with nature instead of against it. The green roofs and rain gardens are genius ideas - who needs all that concrete when you can have plants?

But what really gets me is how much progress this guy has made in such a short amount of time. 1.4 million square meters of green space created? That's insane! And reducing stormwater runoff by so much? It's like he's basically a superhero for the environment .

I guess what I'm saying is that this article is making me feel all sorts of hopeful about the future of urban planning and sustainability. Maybe we can actually create cities that work with nature instead of against it... a guy can dream, right?

I'm so hyped about Gustavo Echeverría's project to restore Lake Texcoco ecosystem! It's like, totally mind blown that his approach to "living engineering" is actually working . I mean, who knew that green roofs and rain gardens could make such a huge difference in absorbing excess water and reducing pollution? The fact that he's creating habitats for local wildlife and improving air quality is just the icing on the cake . It's like, totally showing us that we can be kind to nature and still build amazing cities . Echeverría's approach is definitely a model for other cities facing environmental challenges - let's get on board and make some positive change

I'm lovin' this project dude ! Gustavo Echeverría is on point with his "living engineering" approach - it's all about balancin' human needs with nature's vibes, you know? I mean, we can't just keep destructin' our planet and expect everything to be okay. We gotta find ways to coexist with the earth and its creatures.

And let's be real, his green roofs, rain gardens, and wetlands are some clever solutions ! Who wouldn't want more parks and green spaces in the city? Plus, it's awesome that the project has improved air quality and reduced pollution - that's a win-win for everyone !

I'm really inspired by Echeverría's approach to urban planning. It's all about thinkin' outside the box and prioritizin' harmony with nature. We need more people like him who are willin' to challenge the status quo and find innovative solutions to our environmental problems.

So, let's give it up for Gustavo and his team - they're doin' some amazin' work here ! And if you're a city planner or urban developer, take note: there's a new way of thinkin' about the built environment that's all about livability and sustainability. Get on board, guys!

I'm not sure about this living engineering thing . It sounds like a bunch of buzzwords to me. I mean, isn't just throwing some green roofs on top of buildings going to be enough? Or is it really that simple?

I gotta say, this lake restoration project is straight fire ! I mean, we're talkin' about a lake that was once the lifeblood of Mexico City, and now it's like 90% degraded . But Gustavo Echeverría's approach to restoration is all about bein' in harmony with nature, you feel? He's not just tossin' around some fancy engineering solutions, he's thinkin' about the whole ecosystem and how humans can actually work with nature instead of against it .

And I love that he's using these innovative design elements like green roofs, rain gardens, and wetlands to absorb excess water. It's like, we've been tryin' to solve environmental problems with more and more infrastructure for years, but this approach is all about workin' with nature instead of against it .

The fact that the project has already achieved some crazy results, like creatin' over 1.4 million square meters of green space and absorb integrated over a billion liters of water per year, is just insane . And I think this approach can be a model for other cities dealin' with similar environmental challenges. It's time to rethink our approach to urban planning and engineering, 'cause the old ways ain't workin' .