macarenaportfolio.cargo.site/zona-viva

Zona Viva is a neighborhood initiative designed to regenerate social bonds through awareness and peaceful education rooted in permaculture. It creates a shared space for exchanging knowledge that promotes a better quality of life.

The development of urban gardens and orchards responds to challenges caused by Querétaro’s rapid industrialization and population growth. A key issue is uncontrolled urban sprawl, driven by persistent misconceptions of “development,” such as equating urbanity with large-scale infrastructure, reducing social life to shopping malls, and treating green spaces as privileges rather than necessities. These conditions highlight the urgent need for projects that strengthen social cohesion and environmental culture.
Zona Viva addresses this need through a sustainable architectural approach that rehabilitates abandoned areas, restores soil fertility, fosters appreciation for the land, and builds networks of shared knowledge around permaculture and community self-sufficiency. Central to the project is the active participation of neighbors.

The design framework of Zona Viva is inspired by interconnected systems—linking knowledge, mobility, and symbiosis. Since the 17th century, naturalists have studied mycelium: underground networks that connect roots, transport nutrients, and transmit signals across forests. These systems mirror the dynamic flows of modern cities.

This parallel between micro-scale systems (mycelium, diatoms, algae) and macro-scale structures (tree roots, satellite views of cities) shaped Zona Viva’s visual identity. Symmetry became the main graphic principle, resulting in the creation of Zona Viva “Amebas,” organic forms that complement the logo and connect micro and macro perspectives.

The logo represents the Anthropocene, defined by human impact on the planet. The Amebas, inspired by diatoms and unicellular organisms, reference the Precambrian period, which encompasses most of Earth’s history and laid the foundations for complex life. Together, the branding celebrates microorganisms and their essential role in sustaining life—enriching soil, decomposing organic matter, connecting plant roots, and supporting ecosystems alongside human evolution.