In the Absence of Water: An Eco-Distopian Scenario in Mexico City

Abstract

Mexico City’s water narratives are unique to its place, yet simultaneously speak to the ubiquity of climate challenges in the Anthropocene. This design research explores the reciprocal relationships between water and the future city. The work investigates the ways people, communities, and governance have influenced hydro morphological processes to shape the contemporary built environment. Consequently, it uncovers the ways in which altered flows shape the lived experiences of residents across discrete spatial scales. Building upon historical framings of indigenous and Western knowledge, its research reveals the origins of hegemonic water ontologies to resurface water as a central element across the multiple realities of time and location. It uses an eco- dystopian scenario as a cautionary tale and explores alternative ways of living with and extending community in a time of scarcity.