The project for an international Spanish brand, specialized in clothing and accessories for ladies and gentlemen with international prestige, was done in a 120 square meters area.
This 240sqm private residence designed by ARQUIDROMO is built on a former municipal right of way; a residual space with an irregular shape that, although initially perceived as a disadvantage, turned out to be a design opportunity.
Planning spaces from natural resources seems to be easy. In this case, tropical climate and terrain unevenness have worked in favor of the creativity and talent of RVO Studio, an architecture firm led by Raul Velazquez, who takes chances using local elements in order to bring personality to each and every of his projects.
Ignacia Guest House starts from the rescue of this old house in memory of whom was the former housekeeper for more than 70 years. The concept of the project was created starting from the personality and documentary information about Mrs. Ignacia, from the chromatic palette and gardening (inspired by the landscapes of Ignacia’s origin place, Guerrero) to the intimacy of spaces.
Designed from a high tech, local handmade perspective. This residence integrates regional materiality elements like the red brick due to the closeness of the local brick producers in San Pedro Cholula. The material is arranged in an artisanal way, allowing expressive geometry due to the modular repetition. This introverted house incorporates natural lighting through the lattice and window openings defined by the interior programme and outside relevant views.
The house responds to a three part composition, generated according to the function of the deduced programs and as a response to their location. The crown, in yellow, enclosed and up top, is the element with the strongest presence. It embraces the bedrooms and represents the private areas, symbolizing strength and protection. In dark blue, the pavilion attends to the social activities. Its characteristic form connects to the sierra: from the inside, it frames the mountains, on the outside, it relinquishes the view. The pavilion’s live-in experience is memorable, giving each event the distinction it deserves. The base adapts the terrain to each piece, connecting areas to each other, closing off from the street and opening up to the garden and the city views. The entrance hall unites areas horizontally, while the family room connects vertically with its double-height that coincides with the center of the upper floor.
The new house is solved around courtyards which themselves contain an activity that represents the tension and the relationship between the functions of the volumes that surround it. Another key intention for the design development was the decision to use as constructive method rammed earth walls, with natural aggregates that allows the earth to become black toned that seeks the integration and mimicry with the environment where it was intended that the main element outside was the vegetation.
Consolidate two companies —that finally became one—in the same space and set the standards of how the company´s offices must be around the world is not an easy task. This is why attending the customer´s request and shaping their identity was an opportunity not to be wasted. How we did it? Incorporating in floors, walls and ceilings some details or references that we may find when we board a plane.
The void of the patio organizes two volumes of five levels with 10 apartments measuring 138 m2 each, in the south of Mexico City.
The lattices and spatial organization of the adjoining constructions help to inspire a project that looks inwards.
With an area of 20 x 25 m, the apartments take advantage of the whole frontage to ensure that rooms are filled with light and air. A corridor links the volumes on the south and north sides, and the courtyard between them.
Valle of Bravo, in the estate of México, is famous for its lake and the wonderful landscapes that surround it. Its privileged location and the good climate all year long had turned it into a favorite destination for a holiday home. House L is a great example of the new proyects that haven been developed in the area.