La Antigua Merced
Once a thriving market district with a rich history as the centre for supply and trade of goods to Mexico City, La Merced suffered serious economic, cultural and physical decay since the relocation of the City’s wholesale market in the 1980s. Whilst some traditional businesses remain, the original splendour of the area has declined following decades of neglect.
The project seeks to expose the commercial, cultural and artistic potential of the neighbourhood as a means to drive its regeneration.
Several interconnected lines of intervention are proposed for the renovation of existing buildings and urban fabric, along with improvement of infrastructure, public space and facilities.
The project runs in conjunction with a community-led recovery plan to safeguard and promote the valuable heritage and traditional identity of the neighbourhood.
Manzanares Market & Calle Roldán as regenerative elements
Key to the scheme is the refurbishment of Manzanares Market - a large, semi-abandoned depot in the centre of La Merced that will be converted to provide contemporary retail space for local traders, alongside a cultural programme offering space for exhibitions, workshops and restaurants serving traditional cuisine produced in the area.
The building is seen as a nucleus for the barrio and a catalyst for regeneration, providing a focal point where both modern and traditional practices are celebrated and brought together.
The scheme extends beyond the market building to merge with the public space of Calle Roldán, the main North-South axis through the barrio connecting the Plazas of Santísima, Alhóndiga and Alonso García Bravo.
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