Fernanda Canales . photos: © Rafael Gamo
The project is composed of 24 dwellings built in 3 levels, with 6 different typologies, a series of patios, and multiple-use spaces. The building is located in two sites that form an “L” shape plot as they join at the back and have two perpendicular fronts towards the street. This disposition, with two narrow fronts and two large, slender bodies that are joined at the back, gave way to a project with a series of patios and open corridors that link the different apartments. The idea was to create openings along the site in order to provide better sunlight, cross ventilation, and a greater sense of amplitude for the units. The project has approximately 2,000 square meters, and one fourth of that area is destined for external spaces. The units vary in dimensions and layouts, they range from 40 square meters to 70 square meters, some are duplex, while others have a balcony, a terrace or a small patio.
The project offers a reinterpretation of the historical neighborhood model “vecindades” and provides different alternatives to access the units; each time, with circulations that become common patios and terraces. This way, patios and terraces create a sequence of pathways and external spaces that seek to recreate a sense of neighborhood and appropriation of the space.
The project also has allocation for parking in a semi-basement and áreas for multiple-uses towards the street. Both facades, despite being located in very different streets, retain a unifying design and seek to create their own identity within an irregular neighborhood. The serrated roof is meant to provide natural light to the upper level units and to help bring continuity to the project. This way, it demonstrates that the two separate facades are not the only design, but that it encompasses the whole complex; one that manages to open its dwellings in four or even five directions, thanks to its facades towards the sky, along its longer, less visible and more challenging side.
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VECINDAD MONTE ALBÁN
Mexico City, 2020
Surface Area
2,600 m2
Team
Alberto García Valladares
Ángela Vizcarra
General Contractor
Gerson Huerta
Proyectos Grupo SAI
Structural Engineering
Welt Desarrolladora
Photography
Rafael Gamo
El proyecto comprende 24 apartamentos desarrollados en tres niveles, con 6 tipologías distintas y una serie de patios y espacios de usos múltiples. El edificio se desarrolla en dos predios que forman una “L”, unidos en su parte trasera con frentes hacia calles perpendiculares. Esta disposición poco común, con dos frentes muy estrechos y dos cuerpos angostos que se unen al fondo, generó un proyecto formado por distintos patios que se abren a las viviendas permitiendo tener un mejor asoleamiento, ventilación cruzada y un mayor sentido de amplitud. Los departamentos varían en dimensiones y disposición, abarcan desde 40 hasta 70m2, algunos son tipo duplex y todos cuentan con algún balcón, terraza o pequeño patio. La obra plantea una reinterpretación del modelo de vecindad, y genera distintas alternativas para acceder a las viviendas a partir de pasillos, pequeños patios y terrazas comunes, generando una secuencia de recorridos y espacios exteriores que buscan recrear un sentido de barrio y de apropiación del espacio por parte de los usuarios. El diseño de techumbre dentada se contempla para ingresar luz natural a las viviendas del nivel superior y a su vez aportar una mayor continuidad al proyecto. El diseño de un edificio entre medianeras no se reduce al diseño de las fachadas frontales, ya que el diseño del conjunto en su lado más largo y menos visible presenta el mayor reto para abrir las viviendas en cuatro sentidos, incluso en 5, al considerar las fachadas hacia el cielo.
