Paseo “La Corriente” – Urban Regeneration Project

THE PROJECT

Behind the distinction.

✓ Verified winner · DESIGNSKILLAWARDS-C5C909CAC77F3FC3

Paseo La Corriente is a conceptual urban design project that seeks to restore and revitalize a historic site located in the Historic Center of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, adjacent to the UNESCO buffer zone. San Luis Potosí is located in central Mexico and, according to the 2020 census, has a population of 731,552. Its historic center covers 467.2 hectares, making it the third-largest historic center in the country. This area is home to 25,230 people, representing 3.44% of the city’s total population. The project is located specifically along the former course of La Corriente Creek, a natural waterway that helped shape the city’s urban structure in the 16th century and played a key role in its economic and territorial development. After it was channeled following the 1933 flood, the stream disappeared from the urban landscape; this project left an underutilized residual space, despite its historical importance as the origin of the city’s urban layout and its current role as the main pedestrian connection between the Historic Center and the western part of the city. Paseo La Corriente proposes transforming this space into an accessible, inclusive, and socially active public promenade that revitalizes the area’s hydric heritage and strengthens its urban identity. The proposal is guided by the principle of “Design for All” and incorporates five strategic areas. The project’s specific objectives are organized around five key areas: 1) heritage value; 2) urban services; 3) accessibility; 4) mobility; and 5) sustainability and environmental quality. These areas are integrated into a comprehensive urban intervention that connects plazas, crosswalks, rest areas, and gathering spaces, incorporating solutions that eliminate physical barriers and promote people’s autonomy, orientation, and safety. As a strategy for inclusion and recognition of the site, the project incorporates multisensory elements, including reflective water features that reinterpret the old stream and provide auditory guidance; aromatic plant species that create distinct olfactory identities; haptic maps with Braille, QR codes, and NFC technology; as well as signage, scenic lighting, and accessibility features that enrich the urban experience and enhance spatial clarity. Paseo La Corriente seeks to demonstrate that heritage preservation can coexist with contemporary, accessible, and sustainable urban design solutions. Its comprehensive and replicable approach contributes to create a more equitable, legible, active, and resilient public space, where historical memory becomes a tool for strengthening urban life and the city’s identity.