Urban Deconstruction
The Mexico City as we know today began as a rough sketch of an urban plan – attributed to Alonso de GarcÃa Bravo, one of Hernán Cortés’ henchmen – incorporating the two main axes at 90 degrees to the central plaza, with the streets following a grid formation. The first ever constructions built on the vestiges of Aztec temples were fortress-like buildings that reflected the Spaniards’ fear of retribution after the massacre of the indigenous population. However, by the end of the 16th century, having them established their dominance; the Spaniards began building a more elaborate Plateresque construction, an ornamental style typical of the Spanish Renaissance.