Located in Chetumal, Mexico, Parque Quintana Roo, designed by AIDIA STUDIO, exemplifies community connectivity, nature-inspired architecture, and innovative urban intervention. Planned with a sustainable ethos and cutting-edge parametric design, the 10-hectare civic park was transformed from a seasonal playground into a multifunctional nature-centric community space. Opened in 2024, the biophilic design of the park merges with the terrain and landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula’s subtropical jungle.
Inside Mexico’s Quintana Roo Park
The materials, form, and architectural elements are deliberately chosen to merge with the surrounding landscape and create a cohesive and sustainable urban sanctuary. The park was designed on two main parameters: biophilic design and parametric form finding.
Inspired by the natural terrain and surrounding environment, the design blends to connect visitors to nature. The advanced method of parametric form-finding utilizing computation techniques shaped the structure and elements of the pavilion, canopy, and columns.
Parametric Beauty and Organic Algorithms
The architects envisioned a functional and visually aesthetic hyperbolic paraboloid to create open-air venues that merge with the forest. The master plan of the park focuses on minimizing environmental impact by conserving the existing subtropical jungle and building low-density structures that don’t dominate green spaces.
The experiential journey of the trails was planned in an organic form and radial geometries, like streams, intentionally breaking from the rigid grid of the city. This thoughtful approach encourages visitors’ sense of discovery and connects to the natural world.
The layout mimics natural terrain and a delta-inspired plan to invite wandering and wayfinding. The fluid design of pavilions and structures connected by tangent arcs creates a constellation of circular structures.
Design Philosophy: Biophilic-driven Architecture
The spatial layout consists of the largest structure, the arena, the focal point of design, and smaller pavilions that house retail shops and sports facilities. The park offers community-driven facilities ranging from cultural to recreational amenities.
A looped road circuit along the perimeter provides off-street parking and a dedicated 800-meter track for running and cycling, ensuring accessibility to all areas without disrupting the central green space. Enveloped by eleven ancestral ceiba trees, the entrance symbolizes the 11 municipalities of Quintana Roo, rooting the park in local culture.
Prototype for sustainable public spaces
The architectural language was shaped in lightweight modular structures, and sustainability holds the foundation of design. The prefabricated modular structure ensured affordability, speed, and minimal environmental impact. The material palette was a combination of finishes and textures to provide comfort, functionality, and a sustainable solution.
The plazas and walkways are paved with light beige material that links with local limestone, reflecting the heat. The structures were slender in form, with olive green metal columns and wooden details to provide warmth and tactility to the built environment. The brick patterns added texture, a traditional solution for passive cooling, and the tiled roof protects against heavy rainfall.
Amid rapid urbanization, public spaces must evolve beyond function. Parque Quintana Roo shows how architecture can echo local culture while harnessing technology to create a park that is not just visited, but truly experienced.
Parque Quintana Roo Project Details
Architects: AIDIA STUDIO
Location: Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Site Area: 214,471 m²
Built Area: 39,646 m²
Image Credit: © Andrés Cedillo, AIDIA Studio
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