El Punto
Facing each other across the Rio Grande, at a place where the river winds its way from east to west through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, lie the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez (Juarez City) and the US city of El Paso. The two border cities straddle one of the continent’s key north-south traffic routes, whose origins lie in the Camino Real (Royal Road) established in the early seventeenth century by the Spanish conquistadors. The US-bound migration flows from South and Central America via Mexico are largely channelled along this route – with Juarez City as the last stop before the coveted destination. In the context of these now highly topical social problems, the Iglesia project represents an important step out of hopelessness towards a new identity for the whole region. The site of the Iglesia lies at the intersection between the Rio Grande or Mexican-US border and the Camino Real, as north-south axis. This geographical setting is the inspiration behind the cruciform architectural plan. At the same time, the cross evokes the Christian belief that has prompted the community to support this initiative. The planned accommodation is shared between the four arms of the cross.
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