T E X T T H O M A S C O N N O R S P H O T O G R A P H Y L E A N D R O B U L Z Z A N O Senosiain’s determination to realize a more liberating, life- enhancing built environment is fully expressed in Conjunto Satélite, a semisubterranean complex located just outside Mexico City in Ciudad Satélite, the urban planning project conceived in 1954 by Mexican architects Mario Pani and José Luis Cuevas as a “city outside the city.” Although metropolitan sprawl ultimately surrounded their vision, Senosiain’s design remains a convincing testament to the possibility of shelter that is not only seamless with nature but also elementally joyful. The construction system for the Conjunto Satélite habitations consisted of a pneumatic structure used as formwork, onto which 2 inches of sprayed polyurethane was applied. The form was then deflated and the interior and exterior were coated with 1 centimeter of thick fiber cement. This created a structural sandwich, which was later covered with soil and grass. One of the key advantages of the surrounding vegetation is that the grass, shrubs and trees release oxygen through evapotranspiration, helping to counteract pollution. Another major benefit is that the Earth itself acts as an excellent thermal and acoustic insulator. Inside, temperatures remain between 66 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.