TEPOZTLAN LOUNGE BY CADAVAL & SOLA-MORALES

Tepoztlan, is a small town nestled between rocky cliffs located to the south of Mexico City, 50 kilometers away from the vibrant metropolis.

With its well preserved historic center and wild countryside, Tepoztlan is a town of legends and deep cultural roots that has been appreciated by writers, poets, artists and musicians over many decades, turning it into their hometown or weekend retreat.

Located in this incredible context and surrounded by an astonishing landscape, the Tepoztlan Lounge is the first building completed of a larger project that also includes a series of bungalows of different sizes and designs, which can be rented by years, months or days.

The lounge is set to be a central communal space for leisure in nature, and is located in the perimeter of an incredible lawn; the idiosyncrasy of the project relies on enabling the experience of the carefully manicured lawn while promoting the experience of the wild nature existing in the boundaries of this central space.

The project is a negotiation between interior and exterior, a construction of an in-between condition, an inhabitable threshold, which becomes the main space of the project; the limits between the open and the content space merge to produce a single architectural entity.

The design establishes three separate living quarters designed in accordance to the 3 activities planned; each of them is a set space defined by its use, but also by a very clear and simple architectural container: the first holds an open bar with a kitchenette, together with a couple of restrooms and dressing rooms; the second is a play area for children that can also be used as a reading room when temperatures drop at night; and finally the largest container is the living area, an enclosed, tempered and comfortable space for conversation, TV, etcetera.

But it is the desire to give continuity between these three separate areas where the project is empowered and becomes meaningful; a continuous space, in full contact with the nature but protected from its inclemency is set up not only to expand the enclosed uses, but also to allow new activities to arise.

And it is through the definition of this central space, through the definition of its shape, that the contiguous courtyards are defined; those are as essential to the project as it is the built architecture, and allows constructing as a whole, single spatial experience.

At the same time that the three built containers give continuity to the central space by mans of their use and space, the adjacent patios qualify it, while providing diversity and idiosyncrasy to open space.

The design of the swimming pool is part of this same intervention, and responds to the desire to characterize the spaces; its formalization necessarily resonates the layout of the lounge, while incorporating to its nature the possibility of a multiplicity of ways of using water, and plunging on it.

The building is located as a plinth valuing the views of the mountains. The building wants to be respectful to the existing context, and understands that the vegetation and life at open air are the real protagonist. Two impressive trees that are in place are incorporated within the layout of the lounge, as if they were part of the program itself.

The Tepoztlan Lounge is constructed in concrete not just for being a inexpensive and labor intensive material in Mexico and to minimize its maintenance, but also to expose its structural simplicity and neutrality towards the astonishing nature.

 

Location: Tepoztlán, Morelos, México

Architect: EduardoCadaval & Clara Solà-Morales

Projet Team: Eugenio Eraña Lagos, Tomas Clara, Manuel Tojal

Structural Engineering: Ricardo Camacho de la Fuente

Area: 250 square metres

Year: 2009 - 2012

TORI TORI RESTAURANT BY ROJKIND ARQUITECTOS AND ESRAWE STUDIO

Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in Mexico City and due to its remarkable success, Tori-Tori has now moved to a bigger location in the same area of Polanco, Mexico City.

Although the client’s requirements were oriented towards a Japanese interpretation, it was not literal, he wanted the place to have its own personal expression, contemporary and cosmopolitan, by enhancing its existing spatial conditions through different experiences, the new range of open spaces, its terraces, its sake bar and its own exclusive temple oriented at highly demanding sushi lovers.

‘At rojkind arquitectos we are very rigorous about experimenting with digital design as well as getting things built. That’s why we have specially focused on how to translate complex geometries into very simple and understandable drawings that benefit from local manufacturing, as is the case of working in Mexico City.’ Michel Rojkind, rojkind arquitectos

The façade, which seems to emerge from the ground climbing up through the building, as if mimicking the natural ivy surrounding the retaining walls, is made up of two self-supporting layers of steel plates cut with a CNC machine and handcrafted to exact specifications.

‘We seek in the project a chance for the users to link with the different ambiances and choose their favorites. Each space’s materials, setup and characteristics towards the furniture generate a wide spectrum of options and sensations for its assiduous clients.’ I.D. Héctor Esrawe, ESRAWE Studio

The interior receives and follows the exterior with subtle contrasts. Each room has its own nature and shows a clear relationship with its function. The furniture was inspired and made for Tori Tori and developed with a direct orientation through each space.

The furniture has been specifically developed for a comfortable dining experience. a complete collection of tables and chairs

were created to enhance each interior area connecting the atmosphere and function.

 

Location: Polanco, Mexico City

Architectural Project: Rojkind Arquitectos + Esrawe Studio

Project Team (Rojkind Arquitectos): Tere Levy, Agustín Pereyra, Raúl Araiza, Carlos Alberto Ríos, Isaac Smeke J., Enrique F. de la Barrera, Daniela Bustamante, Daniel Hernández

Project Team (ESRAWE Studio): Ricardo Casas, Basia Pineda, Ian Castillo, Karianne Rygh, Alejandra Castelao, Jorge Bracho, Alejandro Zárate, Marcela Muñoz, Edgar Sánchez, Rodrigo L. Franco

Area: 629 sqm

Year: 2011

Photographer: Paúl Rivera

ROBERTO CANTORAL MUSIC HALL BY BROISSIN ARCHITECTS

“Inspired in the movement of a conductor´s baton, the building design is composed of five concrete roofs moving up and down in harmony to give shape, space and light to the project.

Each roof represents a staff´s line, always straight, constant and parallel. We are looking forward to create a project that lives for the site trees as these will live as a part of it.

We cannot think about a dark and traditional concert hall when the project is being developed in a forest area with huge and old trees.

 

 

The lines composing the façade move up and down as branches moving in the wind, letting the sunlight pass through, creating a fantasy parade in the middle of the shadow´s mystery.

 

 

Step by step, the visitor discovers the project, a soft and kindly merge between nature and man intervention, walks through the access square with a relaxed mind, just observing everything around him, feeling how the concert hall is more than just steel and concrete,  it is an invitation to reflection, to feel the harmony inside and outside and to discover the wonderful and magic world of music.

The building wraps you inside, its shape turns into the shape of music. It is not a whim or about fashion, it is just about the sound of music traveling around every space, every seat, every corner, giving shape to every dream, to every song.

Outside, the white concrete in the facade represents the purity and originality of the Mexican music, inside, the red concert hall represents the Mexican composers´ passion.” Description of Broissin Architects.

 

Location: Coyoacán, Mexico

Architects: Broissin Architects

Project Team: Gerardo Broissin, David Suarez, Alejandro Rocha, Enrique Guillen
Collaborators: Rodrigo Jiménez, Mauricio Cristóbal, Ruben Zepeda, Luis Muñoz, Erik Guzman, Jose Luis Durán Sara Villanueva, Juan Carlos González, Elizabeth Salinas, Juan Manuel Vargas, Pamela Moreno

Client: Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de México, Armando Manzanero Canché, Roberto Cantoral Zucchi

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM “PAPALOTE VERDE MONTERREY” BY IÑAKI ECHEVERRIA

“An underground museum that integrates the latest green technologies into the building and aims for a user-generated experience.

Scheduled to open in winter 2012, The Papalote Verde Children’s Museum, located in Monterrey, Mexico will be an interactive and innovative museum that integrates the latest green technology into a bold and radical architecture.

In this project the concept of a ”museum” is addressed from an entirely new perspective, as the building itself becomes part of the learning experience.

A museum is usually conceived as series of rooms explaining different subjects and following a rigid sequence.

In this case the core subject is present and dealt with throughout the entire museum and understood in different contexts thus enabling the visitor to build his own path.

The project explores two main strategies, one the restoration of existing buildings on site and two, the underground construction of a new building.

The underground space reduces impact on the environment to a minimum and avoids conflict with the functioning of Parque Fundidora by disappearing inside the landscape.

The restoration of two exiting industrial structures of the old Fundidora steel mill helps introduce a new program into an under-used space and improve its current condition. It is expected to become Mexico’s first LEED Platinum certificate.” Iñaki Echeverría

Location: ”Parque Fundidora” in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon

Construction: 2011-2013

Project: 2008-2011

Site Area: 9,908.00 mq.

Project Area: 15,920.00 mq.

MONUMENT “150th BATTLE OF PUEBLA” BY TEN ARCHITECTS

Located in the city of Puebla, and one of the five most important Spanish colonial cities in Mexico, the square was constructed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, when the invading French army, of Napoleone III, were defeated by the Mexicans despite being larger and better-equipped.

TEN Arquitectos proposed to reinterpret the traditional concept of the monument as a a public space to be used by the city and its people, thus winning the competition to design the iconic monument of the Battle of Puebla - 5 de mayo.

Located in the area of Los Fuertes, almost on top of the hill with an exquisite view of the city of Puebla, the project aims to create a dialogue between the city and its inhabitants.

Although the competition did not mention a specific program to develop, TEN Arquitectos proposes 3 covered places to revive the use of public space in the area, also, the design takes advantage of the existing topography as well as the stunning views.

A cafe, playroom and gallery are tucked beneath the artificial topography of this undulating public square in Mexico by architect Enrique Norten of TEN Arquitectos.

The square opens to the city, arising from the deliberate elevation of the existing level, open spaces and winding wrapped areas are created through the unfolding of the undulated sheet of wood. The areas covered by the artificial topography and the plaza create the proposed program which is translated into spaces that encourage gathering.

The first interstice becomes a multi-use gallery; its top creates an open amphitheater for events of different kinds. On another part of the plaza, lies a playroom designed for the recreation of children and older adults allowing them to enjoy interior and outdoor space.

The third gap formed by the undulated wooden plaza turns into a café, as it reaches the highest point of the place, its top emerges as a mirador.

Artificial resemblance of the original topography, the overlapping wooden layer offers a park of undulating movements. Doing homage, the plaza symbolizes one of the most important historical moments in Mexican history.

150 trees were located throughout the square, representing the years that mark the anniversary of the Battle of 5 de Mayo; the need of shade for the users comfort determined the location of the vegetation. The light poles reflect the number of battalions that fought, while its location points to the sites where the most important battles occurred.

Thus, the monument becomes an unexpected public space, a viewpoint that looks over the city and promotes a social and cultural exchange.