Image courtesy of CBC
It’s no secret that Mexico City has major air quality problems. The smog that surrounds its urban landscape is often evident in many images of this megalopolis. Surprisingly, in recent years, Mexico City has become an unlikely example for cities in developing countries suffering from air quality issues. In the process of renewal, Mexico is embracing innovative technology and cutting-edge design.
Image courtesy of CBC
With a little help from its German friends, Maneul Gea Gonzalez Hospital has installed a building façade that helps purify Mexico City’s polluted air. That’s right- Mexico has a smog-eating building. The Hospital’s facade is coated with special pigment that acts as catalyst for breaking down air pollutants. The results are pretty impressive- the façade is expected to neutralize the smog produced by about 1,000 vehicles each day.
While smog-eating buildings won’t cure air pollution alone, it is a step in the right direction and serves as an excellent example of what future infrastructure decisions should strive to address.