Site size: 2,000 square feet

Project size: 3,650 square feet

Program: For his own house, the client required three bedrooms for family members plus an additional room for guests, a small office, outdoor amenity space and a roof terrace, and parking.

Location: Condesa, Mexico City

Solution: The three-story house in Mexico City’s Condesa neighborhood sits unannounced on the street, where it is accessed via a top-lit, ash-clad stairwell that connects all floors and terminates at a roof terrace. On the first floor, an expansive open-plan living space benefits from abundant natural light; a double-height space provides a visual link to a roof terrace. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open out to a rear terrace, framing a view of the street.
Circulation was kept minimal for efficency; the second floor accomodates the bedrooms. A heavily planted roof terrace offers an additional, more secluded amenity space.

Construction and materials: Reinforced concrete is the main structural material; it is left exposed in a number of areas. Large timber assemblies help to break up the concrete throughout. Ash is used for floor finishes, bespoke furniture, the main stairwell, and, in some locations, as external cladding. At the rear terrace, reclaimed brick is used as a masonry infill.

Additional Information

Completion date: January 2017

Gross square footage: 3,550 square feet

Total project cost: $580,000

Total construction cost: $240,000

Owner: withheld