Tianguis. Emergence of Temporary Cities within the City. Spontaneous Occupation of Public Space: The Case of Tlacolula

Abstract

An increasing number of urban projects are evolving towards a more inclusive, participatory model that is synonymous with democratic urban planning. However, in some communities, real participation in its essence is an ancient practice in some commu- nities. In fact, archetypes of urban participation still exist in the world, as in Mexico, in the form of street markets or Í€œtianguisÍ€. This paper analyses various facets (geographical, historical, social, spatial, and architectural) of the Tianguis of Tlacolula de Matamoros. Students and professors were invited to explore and interact with the community using var- ious means for data collection, such as urban sketching, notes, photographs, and interviews. The results show a thorough, collective organization of the space with a long tradition, despite growing precariousness. Some users have been going there for years, and there are self-built stalls in which a wide variety of microarchitecture stands out.