El Alto was founded as a city 37 years ago, lacking infrastructure and services. Its population, made up of migrants from highland communities, has lived on the margins of urban development policies, making them dependent on the city of La Paz.

The accelerated demographic growth of the last 20 years has evidenced the stagnation in its development and urban habitability, thus motivating neighborhood councils, representatives of the million inhabitants of El Alto, to demand decent living conditions and facilities that give autonomy to the city, under the social cry “El Alto standing up, never on your knees”.

In 2007, the Metropolitan Bus Terminal is proposed as a missing and urgent equipment, to put an end to the improvised occupation of several streets called “terminal”; in 2021, finally, this urban piece is materialized providing opportunities in the territory for different socio-spatial groups.

The Terminal Complex, located between the El Alto International Airport and the cable car network linking La Paz and El Alto, resolves the logic of ground transportation - interdepartmental and international - on the first floor of the complex - main nave, roads and complementary buildings - while, from the first level, the building contributes to its own sustainability and promotes integration between foreign and local groups, from a program of diverse uses: leisure, cultural, productive and environmental development; achieving not only a terminal, but also a meeting center.

The location of the complex, adapted to the topography of the site, within the irregular terrain, is arranged in parallel bands, following a logic of transition from public spaces and pedestrian circulation to restricted areas and vehicular traffic.

The main building becomes a “floor-scraper”, with an industrial image, but locally handcrafted, with 42 transversal and 3 longitudinal axes. The interior is structured by four volumes of visual impact - service and facilities cores.

The 2% constant natural slope, imperceptible to the pedestrian, is evident in the space when, processually, the building integrates platforms at different levels between C and B axes. In contrast, between axes A and B, there is a void presided over by an elevated walkway- walkway-, which is gaining height.

The walkway develops over the hall between trees and circulation cores, promotes spontaneous activities, being stage and stage. At times it is linked to the platforms, enabling a universal circulation system throughout the terminal.

The 605 linear meters facade marks a beginning, with a hanging wall, presents a constant development of glazed panels complemented by two masses of trees of great impact, as project material, which extend from the exterior to the interior and the volumetric end is marked by an opaque cubic body of greater height; accompanying the development of the building, the roof of eaves marks the horizon line.

The distant landscape of the Cordillera Nevada makes an impact from the interior of the building and is the reason for the creation of two lookout walkways that overhang the rear façade.

The TMEA proposes an architectural alternative for the city. The Alto de Pie.