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Meet Point
Meet Point
Cancún, Mexico
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Other Projects by sanzpont [arquitectura]
Meet Point
Cancún, Mexico
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2019
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
$10K - 50K
Residencial Cumbres is one of the most successful housing developments in Cancun, located in a commercial area between the airport and the city center. In addition to the neighborhood’s steady growth, the complex offers various amenities to its residents, such as service and commercial areas and an important urban corridor for its users.
Our critical analysis stems from the city’s lack of public walking space, which due to the climate, must be shaded so the users are comfortable. For this reason, all commercial spaces were built at the sidewalk level and the complex features an immense system of walkways, bringing commerce and life to the pedestrian
Functionality: The project had to accommodate the typical commercial storefront layout, rectangular and in battery. In order to avoid one of the most common problems in commercial centers, the lack of interest and desire to access the upper floors, it was decided to give prominence to the escalators and place them in the center as a focal point, providing greater accessibility to the users. Continuous walkways propose various routes to access the three different levels, reaching urban terraces which are oriented toward the dominant winds. These terraces are perfect for cafeterias, bars and restaurants and are connected to elevators and escalators via the main walkways. The large overhangs invite users to stay and enjoy the space. To complement the commercial area, there is a different volume containing the corporate office spaces. This volume has a different function and language than the first, generating a “glass box” structure typical of corporate buildings. The spaces are more private and conducive to offices. Internal circulations have high efficiency causing the rented space to be more cost effective. Rental spaces for modular “self service” offices to be rented and subdivided according to the needs of each company.
Public space: One of the main design goals for this building was to return as much usable public space as possible to the community and to promote interaction between its inhabitants. In extreme climates such as Cancun, creating functional outdoor space can be an issue, but this was addressed by the large overhang that provides solar protection to the building and creates a shaded recreational area. The extended overhang, in addition to its functionality, becomes a unique and iconic design feature. The dominant winds from the east and the sea breeze cool the space throughout the day, providing a meeting area for the users and pedestrians.
Modular premises and commercial route: Commercial and retail projects have an opportunity to address one key element that will continue to impact the building’s functionality for years to come; simple walking paths are used to generate sales leads and brand interaction. By weaving the sidewalks and paths in front of and throughout retail and commercial spaces, the building design itself encourages users to interact with the retailers and ultimately become customers.
Bioclimatic: One of the most important aspects of achieving energy efficiency is sun protection, which prevents the overheating of the building’s interior. Solar geometry and thermal radiation studies can determine the thermal gain at each facade and help define the most efficient orientation, dictating the best approach to maintaining comfort inside the building. Walls and slabs were made with high density polystyrene insulation materials, greatly reducing the use of energy and the need for air conditioning.
Value to the context: When creating city is a goal of the project, one must consider plazas, squares, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways, always prioritizing the pedestrian level and its surroundings to allow for quality recreational and gathering spaces for citizens, which ultimately adds value to the city and the building’s context.
Architecture should specifically respond to the site and location, both physically and energetically. Site specific design honors the time and place of the lot, by choosing local materials, using geographic and climate-specific techniques, honoring local planning and building codes, as well as creating a sense of community that embraces local values and ideas. In the end, the goal is to give more to a place than we take.
Formal Concept and Building Challenges: The concept of Meet Point was born from the need to have a great space that provides shaded urban terraces underneath a grand overhang, which became a focal point of the building design.
These large terraces are only further enhanced by the pedestrian pathways that zigzag through the built volumes, while escalators enhance the connection between the different levels, creating a functional, fluid and dynamic user experience. At the same time, it was important to differentiate the corporate offices from the commercial space, which was achieved by creating a volume with a glass facade, constructed from triangular glass panels, lending itself to an overall dynamic, avant-garde design.
In this case, it was imperative to effectively utilize 3D BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology to develop all design and construction documents, allowing the team to fabricate digital models and collaborate across all disciplines, effectively avoiding construction errors. Another great challenge was the execution of the metal structure, due to its inclined columns and angled joints. This was addressed by designing, manufacturing and cutting the pieces digitally, then assembling them on site using screws. The other major challenge was the angled glass facade of the corporate office area, which was also solved by digitally designing, fabricating and manufacturing the parts.
Lastly, we would like to mention that this project was made possible thanks to the Mexican workforce. We have experience working internationally in countries that could be viewed as more technologically advanced than Mexico, and have found that when faced with a different, challenging concept such as Meet Point, their immediate response is “No, that can’t be done.” We have found the opposite to be true in Mexico; the immediate response is overwhelmingly “Yes, we can!” Here, people gladly accepted the challenge and were very motivated to work with pride. Ingenuity can surpass the technical challenges of a project with the right attitude. Every member of the team brought their experience and knowledge to the table, collectively arriving at the best solution and meeting every challenge. We want to thank everyone that we had the pleasure to collaborate and work with on this project. It is because of them that this project is a success.
Our critical analysis stems from the city’s lack of public walking space, which due to the climate, must be shaded so the users are comfortable. For this reason, all commercial spaces were built at the sidewalk level and the complex features an immense system of walkways, bringing commerce and life to the pedestrian
Functionality: The project had to accommodate the typical commercial storefront layout, rectangular and in battery. In order to avoid one of the most common problems in commercial centers, the lack of interest and desire to access the upper floors, it was decided to give prominence to the escalators and place them in the center as a focal point, providing greater accessibility to the users. Continuous walkways propose various routes to access the three different levels, reaching urban terraces which are oriented toward the dominant winds. These terraces are perfect for cafeterias, bars and restaurants and are connected to elevators and escalators via the main walkways. The large overhangs invite users to stay and enjoy the space. To complement the commercial area, there is a different volume containing the corporate office spaces. This volume has a different function and language than the first, generating a “glass box” structure typical of corporate buildings. The spaces are more private and conducive to offices. Internal circulations have high efficiency causing the rented space to be more cost effective. Rental spaces for modular “self service” offices to be rented and subdivided according to the needs of each company.
Public space: One of the main design goals for this building was to return as much usable public space as possible to the community and to promote interaction between its inhabitants. In extreme climates such as Cancun, creating functional outdoor space can be an issue, but this was addressed by the large overhang that provides solar protection to the building and creates a shaded recreational area. The extended overhang, in addition to its functionality, becomes a unique and iconic design feature. The dominant winds from the east and the sea breeze cool the space throughout the day, providing a meeting area for the users and pedestrians.
Modular premises and commercial route: Commercial and retail projects have an opportunity to address one key element that will continue to impact the building’s functionality for years to come; simple walking paths are used to generate sales leads and brand interaction. By weaving the sidewalks and paths in front of and throughout retail and commercial spaces, the building design itself encourages users to interact with the retailers and ultimately become customers.
Bioclimatic: One of the most important aspects of achieving energy efficiency is sun protection, which prevents the overheating of the building’s interior. Solar geometry and thermal radiation studies can determine the thermal gain at each facade and help define the most efficient orientation, dictating the best approach to maintaining comfort inside the building. Walls and slabs were made with high density polystyrene insulation materials, greatly reducing the use of energy and the need for air conditioning.
Value to the context: When creating city is a goal of the project, one must consider plazas, squares, streets, sidewalks and pedestrian walkways, always prioritizing the pedestrian level and its surroundings to allow for quality recreational and gathering spaces for citizens, which ultimately adds value to the city and the building’s context.
Architecture should specifically respond to the site and location, both physically and energetically. Site specific design honors the time and place of the lot, by choosing local materials, using geographic and climate-specific techniques, honoring local planning and building codes, as well as creating a sense of community that embraces local values and ideas. In the end, the goal is to give more to a place than we take.
Formal Concept and Building Challenges: The concept of Meet Point was born from the need to have a great space that provides shaded urban terraces underneath a grand overhang, which became a focal point of the building design.
These large terraces are only further enhanced by the pedestrian pathways that zigzag through the built volumes, while escalators enhance the connection between the different levels, creating a functional, fluid and dynamic user experience. At the same time, it was important to differentiate the corporate offices from the commercial space, which was achieved by creating a volume with a glass facade, constructed from triangular glass panels, lending itself to an overall dynamic, avant-garde design.
In this case, it was imperative to effectively utilize 3D BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology to develop all design and construction documents, allowing the team to fabricate digital models and collaborate across all disciplines, effectively avoiding construction errors. Another great challenge was the execution of the metal structure, due to its inclined columns and angled joints. This was addressed by designing, manufacturing and cutting the pieces digitally, then assembling them on site using screws. The other major challenge was the angled glass facade of the corporate office area, which was also solved by digitally designing, fabricating and manufacturing the parts.
Lastly, we would like to mention that this project was made possible thanks to the Mexican workforce. We have experience working internationally in countries that could be viewed as more technologically advanced than Mexico, and have found that when faced with a different, challenging concept such as Meet Point, their immediate response is “No, that can’t be done.” We have found the opposite to be true in Mexico; the immediate response is overwhelmingly “Yes, we can!” Here, people gladly accepted the challenge and were very motivated to work with pride. Ingenuity can surpass the technical challenges of a project with the right attitude. Every member of the team brought their experience and knowledge to the table, collectively arriving at the best solution and meeting every challenge. We want to thank everyone that we had the pleasure to collaborate and work with on this project. It is because of them that this project is a success.
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