Proposal by Antoine Breddock for the New Mexico Bicycle Road Project,
Architect Antoine Predock has revealed his vision for the Albuquerque Rail Trail,
a multi-use trail that will connect major destinations in the greater downtown area of New Mexico’s largest city.
The project aims to combine the benefit of pedestrian and bicycle paths with the lands culture and history,
encouraging healthy recreation, cultural expression and economic development.
The Rail Trail project is affiliated with the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, Just City Mayoral Fellowship.
The 7-mile loop of rail trails is designed to connect a number of major destinations in the downtown Albuquerque area.
Including the Spanish National Cultural Center, Old Town, BioPark, and Pueblo Indian Cultural Center.
To encourage the development of the local economy, various activities along the multimodal transport route have been proposed.
The railway tracks, through their design, aim to become a storytelling mechanism.
Reflecting the complex culture and history of the Earth.
To achieve this, Breddock identified distinct areas along the passages, calling them “halos”.
Each aura is a celebration of a different aspect of the larger context.
The halos contain spaces along the track to serve as access and esports gathering points for the community.
Each arena will also include a digital expression of the area, featuring music, people, food and our broader ‘story’.
Design features
The halos along the path highlight different aspects, including the Rio Grande,
representative of the old town in the Spanish colonial era,
and the famous Route 66, and Barellas,
one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city that grew as a result of the railroad coming to Albuquerque.
Since its inception, the city has developed at the crossroads of different cultures,
from local trade routes to colonial expansion and modern-day developments.
The architect also chose to place a recognizable image at the center of the design: the ever-present weeds,
which can be seen rolling down the road,
It is a sacred image in popular culture.
These native plants have come to represent resilience and the ability to ground and move forward.
As it puts down roots and retains moisture in the ground before transforming itself.
Cities around the world are starting to take an interest in alternative modes of transportation,
creating the right infrastructure for cyclists in an effort to shift towards a healthier and more economical lifestyle.
In 2021, Antoine Preddock sat down with Vladimir Belogolovsky to discuss his vision for Bahias, a 13-home community in Costa Rica,
Inspired by seeing man-made foliage.
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