https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1205 en-us Everything inside Downtown—a buzzing hotel, hostel, restaurant, and retail complex in the center of Mexico City —has a story.

]]> 1306-downtown-cheremserrano.asp Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7250-downtown A stand of trees shades a restaurant patio in the building's primary courtyard. DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityA stand of trees shades a restaurant patio in the building's primary courtyard.Photo © Undine Pr'hl Upstairs, the designers had the canopy pruned to create the appearance of a lawn in the center of a third-floor balcony, which serves as the hotel's lobby. A stair painted with a 1945 mural by DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityUpstairs, the designers had the canopy pruned to create the appearance of a lawn in the center of a third-floor balcony, which serves as the hotel's lobby. A stair painted with a 1945 mural by Manuel Rodríguez Lozano connects the two spaces.Photo © Undine Pr'hl Dating from the late 17th century, the former palace's thick masonry walls face a busy shopping street in Mexico City's Centro Histórico neighborhood. DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityDating from the late 17th century, the former palace's thick masonry walls face a busy shopping street in Mexico City's Centro Histórico neighborhood.Photo © Undine Pr'hl An illuminated work by Cuban artist Jorge Pardo hangs above the entrance hallway , which opens into the main courtyard. DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityAn illuminated work by Cuban artist Jorge Pardo hangs above the entrance hallway , which opens into the main courtyard.Photo © Undine Pr'hl The architects removed the roof over a secondary courtyard that had been turned into a garage, adding a green wall to soften the Mexico City sun. DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityThe architects removed the roof over a secondary courtyard that had been turned into a garage, adding a green wall to soften the Mexico City sun.Photo © Undine Pr'hl They added a roof deck with a bar and a pool between the courtyard openings. DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityThey added a roof deck with a bar and a pool between the courtyard openings. Photo © Undine Pr'hl In some of the hotel suites and the hostel rooms, the designers inserted new floor plates above the existing ceilings to preserve their historic materials. They paid homage to the original masonry wit DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityIn some of the hotel suites and the hostel rooms, the designers inserted new floor plates above the existing ceilings to preserve their historic materials. They paid homage to the original masonry with brick lattices that appear throughout the project, including in bunk beds designed for the hostel.Photo © Undine Pr'hl In some of the hotel suites and the hostel rooms, the designers inserted new floor plates above the existing ceilings to preserve their historic materials. They paid homage to the original masonry wit DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityIn some of the hotel suites and the hostel rooms, the designers inserted new floor plates above the existing ceilings to preserve their historic materials. They paid homage to the original masonry with brick lattices that appear throughout the project, including in bunk beds designed for the hostel.Photo © Undine Pr'hl Downtown DowntownCheremSerranoMexico CityImage courtesy CheremSerrano