“La Condesa” a Trendy Mexico City
neighborhood of engaging contrasts, has exploded remarkably in the last few
years. Home not only to new restaurants, bars, galleries and cafes but also to
new edifications that blend with the ones form the 40´s, generating an
atmosphere that clearly reflects architects attempts to provide a new reading
of the place. Such is the case of “La Panaderia” an emblematic space of “La Condesa”,
once a European bakery later an alternative art gallery located at the ground
level of an old dwelling building.
On top
of this old structure a new one is proposed differentiating itself through
shape, this new apartment resembles a nomad shelter which sits on top of a
moonlit; Its users may vary and will occupy the space at different periods
making it work as a transitory space, all floor material will be “Santo Tomas”
marble the same being use at the city metro station, airports, and most of the
infraestructure public space in the city.
The
roof is treated as a continuous surface and will become the facade: a folded
cover that will appropriate of the homogenous surrounding context. Made out of
large sheets of beach glass resin: A solid surface material with unobtrusive
joints yet capable of generate endless coordinated surfaces. The horizontal
plane is deformed according to the analysis of the existent structure and house
circulations, which distribute the user’s private and public domains while defining
visual permeability.
Folding
and cutting the conceptual surface establish the program; roof terrace and
interior spaces are defined by the manipulation of the plan. Interior
distribution works on two bands incorporating the required program: access,
living room and kitchen on the public band; main room on the private one. The
terrace works as a surrounding space accessible from all rooms, working as an
in-between space for the hose and the city.