'Mariano Escobedo' Municipal Market

Tultitlán, Mexico

Category Retail | Public Space
Job type Direct Commission
Date 2020 - 2023
Size 1.127,58 m²
Client Secretaría de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano - SEDATU
Collaborators ORU I Departamento del Distrito I Ricardo García Santander
Status Built
Photos Adriana Hamui - Bé Estudio - SEDATU

Tultitlán: An Industrial Hub with a Community Focus

Tultitlán is a municipality located in the northeastern region of the State of Mexico, bordering the northern edge of Mexico City. Renowned for its industrial character, the area hosts numerous warehouses and industrial facilities that play a vital role in the local economy. Its close proximity to Mexico City and integration into the metropolitan area position Tultitlán as a key urban center, where industrial growth is thoughtfully balanced with cultural and community-driven initiatives.

Building Community Through Public Space

In 2019, the Mexican federal government, through the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), launched the Urban Improvement Program (PMU) to enhance public spaces across the country. The program focuses on building social infrastructure that promotes community interaction, meets local needs, and encourages the use of public spaces. 'Mariano Escobedo' Municipal Market is one such project, reflecting the program goals of fostering community engagement and accessibility.

From Decay to Renewal: A New Market for Tultitlán

In the historic center of Tultitlán, just two blocks from the main plaza, the 'Mariano Escobedo' Municipal Market revitalizes local commerce and community life. For decades, a warehouse-style market occupied this site, but by 2019, years of poor maintenance, structural instability, and overcrowding had made it unsafe. Authorities demolished the deteriorating structure to pave the way for a new, purpose-built market.

A Framework for Flexibility and Interaction

Inspired by Mexican commercial spaces—from Mercado de La Merced to Tepito’s informal trade and big-box retail—the market adopts a shared strategy: maximizing open ground space by concentrating a lightweight structure overhead.

A column-free 20m x 30m hall ensures adaptability, enabled by a steel truss framework resting on just 28 perimeter columns. This design frees the ground plane, allowing for unobstructed movement, flexible stall layouts, and seamless interaction.

A Market Shaped by Space, City, and Commerce

The market features 60 vendor stalls, each equipped with a work counter, sink, and storage, supporting a diverse range of goods. Its open-plan layout allows flexible stall arrangements, fostering a dynamic marketplace.

Two programmatic bars define the perimeter: one at street level with a daycare, restrooms, and dining area, and another elevated, creating a shaded portico below and housing municipal offices above. A 5-meter roof overhang extends beyond the northern façade, turning the street corner into a covered public space for vendors, visitors, and passersby.