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ICSC panel Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas

January 5, 2015

Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas speaks about his best-known projects at the ICSC mixed-use conference.

On February 5, 2015, the JW Marriot Hotel in Mexico City played host to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and its master lecture “Mixed-Use: The New Challenge for the Urban Context.” The subject of mixed-use developments has become an essential one, thanks to the new wave of densification in Mexico’s major cities. This change leads to an increase in land values, forcing developers to find new solutions to real estate investment plans. In these conditions it is hard to make a project profitable with a single type of use, making mixed-use buildings the most realistic solution for developers, which in turn drives urban regeneration and the country’s economy.

The conference began with a presentation by Felipe de Jesús Gutiérrez, Secretary of Urban Development and Housing, on the major urban changes that have taken place in the city in recent years, and the new opportunities and challenges for mixed-use developers.

This was followed by talks by two experts in architectural design in Mexico: Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas and Víctor Legorreta, Partner, Director General and Director of Design at Legorreta + Legorreta. The event was chaired by Miguel Ángel Piñones, Director of Real Estate Development at Grupo Gigante Inmobiliario.

Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas presented some of his most significant mixed-use buildings such as Antara, Picacho, Parque Toreo and Andares. He spoke about the current situation of each project and future interventions, stating that “If adjustments are not made in the city, opportunities are continually being lost.” Meanwhile, Víctor Legorreta presented his most recent mixed-use developments. Following the presentations, a question and answer session was held with both architects, availing of the extensive knowledge of the subject among the audience.