Meet the architect who wants to return Mexico City to its ancient lakes

Alberto Kalach explains why the solution to the capital's future growth may lie with the pre-Hispanic civilisations who built with respect for the environment

"For the largest commissions, our government only trusts architects who speak English," says Alberto Kalach, sitting in the verdant roof garden above his office, Taller de Arquitectura X. "And as you can see, mine is very bad."

As we discuss the future and past of Mexico City (a topic that 55-year-old Kalach has been researching in detail for the past three decades), the DF-born architect manages to sound both wry and good-natured, without losing any of his impassioned critique - and all in very good English. "We're supposed to have a government from the left in this city," he says. "But all the investment goes to the wealthiest areas, while the poorer areas are forgotten."