Project by I Fu Chang, Panchenchen Feng, Shao-Wei Wang @ethanchang1209, @fengpanchenchen, @shawnproclaim
Colonia Doctores in Mexico City is shaped by a long history of automobile repair, with workshops, mechanics, parts dealers, and informal street activity forming an important part of its identity. Recently, new galleries and creative studios have brought investment, but also rising rents and pressure on local residents and businesses.
Our project focuses on seven family-run repair shops along María Vé Ortiz Avenue. Instead of replacing them, the proposal connects them through an adaptable scaffolding structure. This framework supports repair work, housing, artist studios, shared kitchens, workshops, water systems, and communal spaces.
The project strengthens the relationship between labor, street life, and community. It extends the sidewalk as a working and social space, while creating new connections between mechanics, artists, residents, and visitors. Over time, the scaffolding can grow and change with the community, forming a layered urban landscape where repair culture, domestic life, and collective living coexist.
