UTOPICA VILLAHERMOSA

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UTÓPICA VILLAHERMOSA

Para nuestras familias, quienes desde el apellido nos han inculcado profundo amor por nuestras raíces.

For our families, who, even through our surname, have instilled in us a profound love for our roots

Y de una para la otra, por alentarnos tanto en el proyecto como en todos los demás aspectos de nuestras vidas.

And from one to the other, for encouraging us not only in this project but in all other aspects of our lives. The presented work is an

1. Feminine noun

An ideal plan, project, doctrine, or system that appears to be very difficult to achieve.

2. Feminine noun

An imaginative representation of a future society characterized by conditions that promote human well-being.

We were born in the south of Mexico:

A region rich in culture yet often overlooked in discussions regarding urban development. Villahermosa is primarily recognized as an oil city or a stopover en route to Cancún. Utopica Villahermosa explores the factors constraining Villahermosa’s growth, and the opportunities that could catalyze it into a thriving, walkable, biophilic, and equitable city.

This project arose from a deep-seated desire to address questions that have long preoccupied those of us from southeastern Mexico: Why do we experience stagnant growth? Why are our cities so deeply unequal? How can we contribute to the sustainable development of the region? Our proposal signifies a return to the Olmec principles of our ancestors: an economy centered around local products such as maize, plantain, chocolate, and even oil, and infrastructure that shows reverence for the rivers and mountains that preceded our existence and continue to challenge it.

Guided by the Urban Resilience Index, we conducted a systematic analysis of Villahermosa, examining its multifaceted challenges and opportunities. Through this framework, we identified eight core issues impeding the city’s progress and developed a series of strategic interventions that respond to those issues.

The idea behind this thesis is not to propose a rigid framework for an urban plan, but rather to offer an array of flexible and adaptable urban strategies that can be implemented throughout the city in an acupuncture-like manner. This approach aligns with Mexico’s current political model, where frequent changes in leadership often result in inconsistencies in implementing long-term plans. By offering flexible solutions, the framework allows each administration to select interventions that align with their budget and objectives, while the remaining elements can be integrated as needed.

In this model, legibility is paramount, as governments seek tangible results for citizens. Driven by a commitment to social justice and clarity, we prioritized collaborative approaches to secure consensual community interventions. This master plan does not present a rigid transformation timeline constrained by political terms. Instead, it offers a dynamic, adaptable set of solutions for incremental, non-linear implementation, aiming to create an urban environment that fosters resilience, equity, and well-being for all inhabitants.

ENVIRONMENT

THE VILLAHERMOSA METROPOLIS

Villahermosa consists of two municipalities of Tabasco: Centro and Nacajuca. While the city has primarily developed within the municipality of Centro, the metropolitan delimitation exercise conducted by SEDATU in 2020 incorporated both entities based on the principles of “physical conurbation” and “100,000 or more inhabitants.”

metrópoli Villahermosa

municipios Tabasco

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Guatemala

However, it is important for us to provide the nuances of this distinction. While the southern part of Nacajuca is nearly fully conurbated with the city of Villahermosa through predominantly residential areas, the western part of Nacajuca possesses an economy, history, culture, and overall functionality that are entirely distinct from its southern counterpart. Throughout our work, we will maintain this distinction as a sign of respect to the individuality of the municipality (its culture and ancestry) while also acknowledging the urban expansion that has extended from the municipality of Centro into the peripheries of Nacajuca.

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RURAL AND URBAN

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localidades urbanas

localidades rurales

municipios Tabasco

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According to the 2020 National Population Census defines rural entities as those with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants. The entities with the highest rural populations are Chiapas, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, and, in fourth place, Tabasco, with 41.5% of its population residing in rural localities. In the figures below, we can observe the vast number of rural localities in Tabasco and their distribution. Most urban localities are concentrated in the central part of the state, near Villahermosa, while the peripheries are predominantly composed of rural localities, with some municipalities having relatively small urban centers

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urban localities (Villahermosa)

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urban localities

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localidades rurales Villahermosa

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rural localities

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Villahermosa Metropolis

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rural localities (Villahermosa)

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Tabasco municipalities

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TOPOGRAPHY

TOPOGRAPHY

The figure above illustrates the variations in elevation above sea level within the city of Villahermosa. The hills located in the eastern part of the city serve as a comparative reference, allowing us to appreciate the predominantly flat nature of the city. The city’s gradual decrease in elevation toward the center is what causes flooding when water flows down from the Chiapas mountain range. In this map, we can observe the urban areas of Villahermosa, its bodies of water, and its topography, helping us understand where the flood-prone areas are located.

MANGROVES AND WETLANDS: Vital in conservation strategies

The figure to the right highlights the crucial role of mangrove, popal, and reed bed vegetation around Villahermosa’s water bodies, as well as their proximity to urbanized areas. Historically, the city benefited from these ecosystems, which acted as natural water purifiers and flood buffers. However, urban expansion has reduced their ability to perform these functions. We therefore advocate for the conservation of these areas and propose planning strategies that manage urban growth to promote density while minimizing environmental disruption.

HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

To study the urban heat island effect in Villahermosa, we created temperature maps using site data. The first map, based on maximum temperatures of 44°C recorded in July, shows limited areas of extreme heat. However, the second map, with a maximum of 37°C, reveals nearly the entire city experiences high temperatures. This comparison highlights the significant heat exposure residents face, which impacts labor productivity and health. A second study focused on building temperatures to identify “heat islands.” These areas, typically found in the city’s outskirts, contrast with cooler central spaces that benefit from trees and water bodies. Buildings in central areas experience less heat, while those in rural zones are more affected.

WATER

As far back as the collective memory of the people of Tabasco reaches, water has been a force to be feared. However, this was not always the case. The city is surrounded by lagoons, wetlands, and streams, with its aquifer system linked to the basin of the Usumacinta and Grijalva rivers. Originating in the Guatemalan mountains, these rivers flow gradually toward the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to the region’s exposure to heavy rainfall, mountain runoff, and frequent river surges, leading to significant flooding.

The abundance of water was not always a problem. In the early days of the city, there are testimonies indicating that the seasonal floods actually benefited the fertility of the land, supporting agricultural industries.

“The rivers were the open veins of a dynamic trade that made possible the splendor of steamships and cayucos coming and going nearby. The horse-drawn roads were rarely used, as during the rainy season they would be submerged up to four meters under water,” (The Hell Beneath the Water in Tabasco).

However, it has been some time now since the growing population settled in previously agricultural areas, and as a result, water has become an increasingly significant concern for the locals. There have been major floods in Tabasco, but it was in 2007 that the overflowing waters covered nearly 62% of the state. Since then, the threat of intensifying floods due to climate change has loomed over the people of Tabasco.

Ecological disasters in Tabasco highlight the consequences of unplanned development and settlement expansion. The region has suffered significant environmental degradation, including soil and water contamination, and the confinement of rivers that once flowed freely. These changes stem from deforestation for livestock grazing, unregulated infrastructure projects, and uncontrolled urban growth. Infrastructure like drains, canals, and roads has restricted water flow, exacerbating flooding by concentrating water in specific areas. The 2007 flood was classified as one of the largest disasters in the country. Data indicates that the total number of homes estimated to have sustained various types of damage was 2,289 (representing 0.4% of the total in the state). However, considering that the floodwaters covered approximately 62% of the state at the time, this figure appears to be severely underreported. This is without mentioning the countless stories of friends and family members from Tabasco who experienced personal losses during the 2007 flood. In the figure below, we decided to simulate the flood-prone areas within Villahermosa (data supported by the flood risk zones map from the same atlas) and cross-referenced these data with the city’s buildings. The map reveals at least 53,744 buildings in flood-prone zones. While not all of these structures may have sustained severe damage, it is highly probable that most of them had water enter their homes during the catastrophe, inevitably causing damage to these properties.

URBAN SPRAWL AND FLOODING

The city’s dependence on the Grijalva River for drinking water has been hindered by high turbidity levels, leading to frequent shutdowns at the water treatment plant. In response, a 4.1-kilometer underground aqueduct is being constructed to channel water from the Carrizal River to address water shortages exacerbated by urban growth. Both the Risk Atlas and the proposed aqueduct project take a preventive approach to water management. However, instead of focusing on preventing water influx during floods, the objective should be to work with the water, learning from its natural behaviors to create an integrated, sustainable solution that aligns with the environment and fosters community.

cuerpos de agua parques y camellones zona urbanizada

zonas inundables

Buildings at flood risk bodies of water open spaces urban spaces floodable areas

5. access to specialized clinics

6. access to healthy food

7. Failure to connect between social welfare activities

8. Falta de acceso a instancias de justice y seguridad roads

ejes viales

áreas con menor efecto de isla de calor

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áreas con menor efecto de isla de calor

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vacíos urbanos

áreas con menor efecto de isla de calor

vacíos urbanos

cuerpos de agua

vacíos urbanos

áreas verdes

cuerpos de agua

zonas urbanas

áreas verdes

cuerpos de agua

zonas urbanas

zonas urbanas en riesgo de inundación

áreas verdes

zonas urbanas en riesgo de inundación

zonas urbanas

areas with controled heat island effect urban voids bodies of water green areas urban areas risk of flooding insufficient infrastructure marginalized neighborhoods

frentes de manzanas con infraes ructura carente

colonias con índices medios a muy altos de marginación

frentes de manzanas con infraestructura carente co onias con índices medios a muy altos de marginación

zonas urbanas en riesgo de inundación frentes de manzanas con infraestructura carente co onias con índices medios a muy altos de marginación