The mixed-use office and retail building is conceived as a proposal that respects and reinforces the existing heritage of traditional Arequipa, while also seeking to shape the future heritage of a contemporary city. The project is located within the buffer zone of Yanahuara’s historic center. To engage with its surroundings, it is conceived as an element with two main fronts: one facing a smaller, traditionally scaled street, and the other looking onto a more contemporary, busier avenue. Consequently, two distinct treatments are developed: the first results in a solid volume that maintains the proportions of openings found in typical local constructions; the second is a more open, more perforated frontage.

The final outcome is a building with small, vertical windows and thick walls. Its structure is reinforced concrete and steel, while the façade is clad in sillar—the local volcanic stone—to acknowledge its character and give the building a contemporary expression. Taking advantage of Arequipa’s abundant daylight, a fissure is carved and oriented to the sun to ensure natural light throughout the usable floor area while protecting it from heat. The building follows guidelines for saving water, energy, and materials, incorporates elements such as solar panels, and rules out the installation of air conditioning. It has been designed to become the first building in Arequipa to achieve the EDGE Advanced certification promoted by the World Bank, which is still in process.