Lego in Real Life - a photo project about the aesthetics of the houses where Mexicans live and suffer

In the early 2000s, the Mexican government launched an ambitious project to build affordable housing for millions of poor residents. The state spent over $100 billion on it, but the program proved corrupt, poorly conceived, and poorly executed.





Even today, many buildings lack running water and sewer systems. Mexican photographer Jorge Taboada was stunned by their size and monotony, which was especially noticeable from the air.



"This alarming situation isn't visible from ground level. I began researching and photographing these houses, built by the thousands in the vicinity of Mexico's main industrial cities."

Jorge studied architecture in the mid-1990s and then decided to combine his knowledge with his passion for photography, becoming one of the most renowned photographers in Monterrey, his hometown.



His latest series, "Alta Densidad" ("High Density"), features photographs of housing developments throughout Mexico. All photographs were taken from a helicopter.





From above, these endless rows of identical houses even look aesthetically pleasing. But despite their beauty, the photographer points out that such strict geometry reveals the authorities' absolute indifference to the needs of the people.



"On the one hand, I see beauty in all this architecture and monochrome landscapes. But then I think about the people who live there and suffer the consequences of government indifference."