Puebla, Mexico
Commemorating community stories across 11 intersections
The Project
With “Vereda Florida,” a previously gray and unwelcoming part of the city was transformed into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly corridor.
For the mural design, ideas were generated through a series of workshops held with 30 students from Universidad Tec de Oriente. The artist then generated two proposals from among these ideas that were then put to a vote on social media and through street surveys. The winning design is a commemoration of the victims of femicide in the state of Puebla, and features women with flowers flowing from their hair. For each street corner, a unique character with a native flower was created, thus unifying the design across the 11 corners. The murals were installed over 4 days with the help of more than 200 volunteers.
Along with the murals, pedestrian areas were protected and parking was better organized, and the area was enhanced with new benches and planters filled with pollinating flowers and trees. The result saw a more inviting place for people to rest and enjoy, as well as a successful reduction in vehicular speeds, “near misses,” and crossing distances at most intersections.
- Average car speeds within the corridor were reduced by 61%.
- Pedestrian and green areas were nearly doubled, increasing from 23% to 41% of the total space on the street
This intervention showed that when people feel connected to their surroundings, they’re more likely to embrace and support safety measures. Art bridges that connection and enhances the success of socializing urban interventions.
Sara Miranda, Project Lead
Use the slider to see the transformation
Best Practice Highlight: Aligning with Permanent Infrastructure Improvements
Close collaboration between Ciudad Activa and the Municipal Authorities of Puebla City was crucial to integrating permanent infrastructure improvements alongside the ‘Vereda Florida’ asphalt art. Collaboration began early in the planning stages at project conception, to align artistic vision with design goals focused on pedestrian safety. Through multiple consultations with local business owners and ongoing reviews of the design, the artwork was strategically placed in such a way as to feature the largest part of the murals at the intersections that were geometrically redesigned and enhanced with the new curb installations and planters to protect pedestrian areas. These physical improvements were implemented by the municipal government as part of a larger urban renewal effort, transforming the area into a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space.
Press
Aaron Merino Murals || News with Juan Carlos Valerio (Imagen Televisión, September 9, 2024)
Aaron Merino Remodeling || News with Juan Carlos Valerio (Imagen Televisión, August 27, 2024)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
