Jardín Naturalista Colibrí at Canal Constitución
by Gladiola Camacho Estudio
Santa Catarina Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Project details
Year
2025
project year
2024
site area
2000 m²
project website
Team credits
architects
- Gladiola Camacho Estudio -
Gladiola Camacho Díaz
design & research team
Iris Ruiz,
Jose Luis Corona,
Maria Jose Soule Soule,
Mariana Soule,
Blanca Correa.
contributing partners
Public Services Government Santa Catarina N.L.
What began as a master’s thesis on the loss of green spaces in Monterrey has grown into a living example of ecological restoration and public engagement. The Jardín Naturalista Colibrí at Canal Constitución reimagines a neglected canal median as a vibrant ecological and social space, replacing ornamental models with a naturalistic approach. Using native plants adapted to the region’s harsh climate, the project regenerates soil, provides habitat and reconnects residents with the spontaneous beauty of northeastern Mexico’s landscapes.
Located in Santa Catarina, one of Monterrey’s most industrialized municipalities, the project responds to decades of urbanization that have degraded biodiversity and deprived residents of access to green spaces. Despite the area’s high pollution and extreme heat, the garden demonstrates that even small-scale interventions can reverse environmental damage. Carefully selected plant species create ecological value while transforming neglected infrastructure into a place of pride and belonging.
The design introduces a biodiverse mix of over 2,000 native trees, shrubs, agaves and flowering plants. More than a conventional park, the site functions as an open-air laboratory to test ecological landscaping strategies, monitor resilience and encourage a slower, more mindful use of public space. It balances experimentation and care – valuing natural processes as much as visible design.
The long median strip is now lined with multi-layered vegetation that changes with the seasons. Colours, textures and shifting foliage create a sensory experience for passersby and visitors. Residents use the garden for walks, dog outings and quiet afternoons, finding in it both ecological refuge and a renewed civic identity for their neighbourhood. What was once a lifeless median has become an emblem of community resilience and collaboration.
The project reused waste materials – mulch, branches and logs – from nearby land clearing, reducing costs and minimizing waste. An automatic irrigation system was installed, supplemented by collective watering days organized during periods of drought. Plant species were chosen not only for their beauty but for their ecological roles: pollinator attraction, soil regeneration and carbon capture. Their resilience to the region’s heat, drought and heavy rains ensures long-term sustainability.
Community engagement has been essential from the beginning. Residents and gardeners co-authored the garden’s design, sourcing native plants, organizing watering days, and maintaining the space together. These shared efforts strengthened neighbourhood bonds and established a sense of ownership. Today, the Constitución Canal is a source of pride – an accessible, safe and welcoming green face for the community.
The garden has reduced local heat, improved air quality and provided habitat for pollinators and birds. It also hosts educational tours, gardening workshops and community events. As an evolving experiment, it demonstrates how modest, low-budget interventions can address ecological loss and social inequality in urban environments, offering a replicable model for other cities in Mexico and beyond.
The Jardín Naturalista Colibrí at Canal Constitución was initiated by architect and landscape architect Gladiola Camacho Díaz, whose work focuses on biodiversity recovery and sustainable urban design. The project began as part of her master’s research on ecological restoration and the rehabilitation of degraded public spaces in Monterrey, a city marked by rapid industrial expansion and environmental loss. During the research and design phase, Camacho collaborated with a multidisciplinary team including Iris Ruíz, Blanca Correa, Gladiola Carolina Díaz, María José Soule, Mariana Sole and José Luis Corona. Together, they combined ecological research, community dialogue and landscape design to define a method of naturalistic planting rooted in the local ecosystem.
Implementation relied heavily on local collaboration. Gardeners Mauricio Hernández, Jenny Margarita Jerónimo, José Luis Hernández, Karime Hernández and Milothe carried out much of the planting and ongoing care, while Lupe Nava and Don Nico installed the irrigation system. Public servants such as José Luis Doria and Juan Palacios provided technical support, ensuring alignment with municipal infrastructure and maintenance.
Camacho later founded Gladiola Camacho Estudio, a practice dedicated to sustainable landscape design and community participation. Her office develops projects that celebrate ecological identity, promote biodiversity and reuse local resources. Together, the extended team behind the garden demonstrates how research, community knowledge and collaborative action can turn neglected urban fragments into living ecosystems that foster both environmental recovery and civic pride.
The prize money will fund strengthening the garden as both an educational hub and a biodiversity refuge. Upcoming actions include improving infrastructure, signage and equipment to expand community programmes and ensure long-term maintenance. Residents, schools and volunteers benefit from an accessible, safe public space, while pollinators, birds and native plants thrive in a restored habitat. Workshops, educational materials and community events will foster environmental awareness and collective stewardship. By transforming a degraded canal into a living classroom, the project inspires other neighbourhoods to adopt similar models for ecological restoration and inclusive urban regeneration.
- Information for the project text was provided by Gladiola Camacho Estudio -
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Advisory Committee Statement
‘Jardín Naturalista Colibrí at Canal Constitución’ receives the award for Local Scale for transforming a neglected median strip in Monterrey into the Constitución Canal Naturalist Garden, a community-led experiment in ecological restoration. Through careful research and collaboration, the team identified and reintroduced native plant species to regenerate soil, attract pollinators and restore urban biodiversity. More than a garden, it serves as an open-air laboratory – testing ecological landscaping and fostering a slower, more conscious way of inhabiting public space. ‘It’s so simple and so complex at the same time’, with ‘ravines and rivers playing a key role’, making it an exemplary project that reconnects people with the living systems of their city.