Border City emerges as a groundbreaking vision for urban development along the United States-Mexico border, reimagining one of the world’s most significant international boundaries as a place of connection rather than division. Situated at the convergence of New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua, the masterplan presents a new paradigm for bi-national urban development in the 21st century.

The city’s distinctive hexagonal plan, clearly visible in the aerial visualization, radiates from a central core like a crystalline formation in the desert landscape. This geometric framework isn’t merely aesthetic – it serves as a sophisticated organizational system that optimizes connectivity and creates efficient pathways throughout the urban fabric. From above, the city appears as a luminous network, its streets and boulevards forming a precise yet organic pattern that extends across the borderland terrain.

At its heart, Border City is anchored by a main international axis that serves as the primary spine for urban development. This central artery connects to the Santa Teresa inland port, establishing a vital industrial corridor between the United States and Mexico. The city’s structure expands radially from this core, with transportation routes creating hexagonal connections between radial streets to minimize travel distances and maximize accessibility. This thoughtful arrangement ensures that all residents remain within an eight-minute walk of transportation stations, promoting a pedestrian-friendly environment that reduces dependency on private vehicles.

The masterplan embraces a polycentric approach, distributing multiple activity hubs throughout the urban landscape. These nodes house research facilities, educational institutions, and health centers, creating diverse centers of community life and economic activity. The street architecture responds directly to the local climate, incorporating native vegetation and implementing narrow streetscapes that provide natural cooling while fostering intimate neighborhood environments. This attention to local conditions ensures that the city not only functions efficiently but also creates comfortable, livable spaces for its inhabitants.

The project leverages existing infrastructure, including seven border crossings in the area and the I-10 highway connecting the east and west coasts. It also builds upon a progressive U.S. Customs and Border Protection pilot project that allows for cargo clearance at manufacturing plants, streamlining international commerce and cooperation.

The development employs special economic zones as tools to ensure its viability, while adopting economic, social, cultural, and environmental sustainability as core organizing principles. As presented at the London Design Biennale 2016, Border City stands as a bold prototype for future border regions – one that demonstrates how thoughtful urban planning can transform political boundaries from barriers into bridges, creating prosperous, sustainable communities that transcend national divisions while respecting and celebrating the unique characteristics of both nations.