Hotel Carlota

In collaboration with JSª Chain + Associates Architects and -despachos charge of conceptual and architectural development of the Carlota Hotel, The Metropolitan exclusively designed a line of furniture for common areas and all of the renovated hotel restaurant located in the Cuauhtemoc colony Mexico City.

The project always sought to rescue the structure of the old Hotel Jardin Amazonas (icon of social and tourist life of Mexico City in the early '70s that went into decline at the end of the last century). Taking this premise as a starting point, we develop a family of furniture that combines inspiration 'functionalist formally' where traditional techniques of Scandinavian rescued tissue, which integrate processes of CNC joinery.

Each element in the renewed this hotel is the result of a new history within the design in Mexico; a cluster of concepts, unique pieces and multisensory experiences, build Carlota each space as a result of the participation of a group of experts and creative Mexican.

The furniture, which brings much Carlota unique personality, is our contribution to this original space and consists of 10 pieces of wood and variations which reflect in each the theme of this series: the sophistication of the silhouette .

The recovery of ancient manufacturing techniques and cutting processes are computer controlled almost handcrafted finishes that reveal the basis of Carlota in general: "A search to recover the essence of the past and bring it to this to preserve it in the future."

The old Hotel Jardin Amazonas, thus becomes an honest, urban and expressive, the new Hotel Charlotte.

The starting point of this project was an urban-archeological work. We found a building in complete decadence, formerly called Hotel Jardín Amazonas. We googled it right away and a couple of images from its splendorous timescaught our attention,mainly by the central courtyard, that figured an oasis within the city, among the 70´s decor, the artificial grass mat and the clothing of the people who were photographed while sunbathing by the pool. Nothing remained from that hotel apart from the typical structure of a motel, with exterior corridors and balconies above the courtyard, as well as countless layers of coverings, aggregates, stairs, ceilings and patches, as we commonly call them between architects. Today the hotel has 36 rooms, each with a special touch.

The façade, which was left untouched, had been probably remodeled in the 80´s, in an attempt to add the building a sense of modernity, it was covered with a glass layer with mirror aspect. The Cuauhtémoc neighborhood, today a very cultural active area, suffered this same process of deterioration during some years, when the periphery competed with the central city. The decision of which elements we should conserve and which to withdraw was a ludic process of gradual discovery.

We even decided to avoid the access through the facade and build a new one on the side in the neighbors’ parking lot,to modify the route’s travel and cause astonishment by making the visitors reach directly to the central courtyard we had idealized in the photographs. In this process, apart from removing and showing the different layers, we decided to add some potential elements that could give cohesion and unity to the project. The concrete structure of the existing building can be appreciated from every common area and hotel room. The central courtyard becomes the busiest public space, having the restaurant all around, which is designed under the same criteria of the hotel and with furniture specifically made for this place.

IN THE HEART OF THE CUAUHTÉMOC, A NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF HISTORY AND CONSTRASTS, AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE IS RE-INVENTED AND TRANSFORMED INTO A SPACE THAT HONORS THE REAL MEXICO CITY: A CITY OF CITIES, CULTURE, DESIGN, ART, MEMORIES AND MODERNITY.

The old Hotel Jardín Amazonas is transformed into an honest, expressive and urban place. Each element that makes up this new hotel is the result of a new history within design in Mexico. A cluster of concepts, unique pieces and multisensory experiences, build each space in Carlota as a result of the participation of a group of expert and creative Mexicans.

ARCHITECTURE From the architectural perspective, led by the renowned firm of Javier Sánchez, the project follows a line of urban archeology. The recovery of a space in total decline in one of the neighborhoods with greater cultural activity in the city makes the Carlota a worthy oasis to enjoy the metropolitan landscape of Mexico City.

The hotel design is the outcome of a project whose mission was not only to renew but to achieve cohesion between past and present. Details such as the concrete finishes found throughout the structure of the facility, maintaining of some original features and the general layout of the hotel where spaces such as the library and the shop/gallery seem to blur the barriers that separate them, make the Carlota a unique and special project.

INTEGRAL CONCEPT AND DESIGN CADENA + ASOC. CONCEPT DESIGN ® led by Ignacio Cadena, set out to the task of creating a unique concept of experience. Fusing architecture, interior design and communication proposes a casual urban language that speaks to us of a contemporary, expressive and dynamic Mexico. Carefully studying its immediate context and understanding the wonderful character of an iconic neighborhood such as the Cuauhtémoc, the Carlota hotel points to ideas of recovery and urban archeology, it unearths walls and discovers remnants of a vibrant neighborhood that is ready to be re-invented. A few steps from the emblematic Paseo de la Reforma, the Carlota hotel pays homage to its past and looks to the future as a concept respectful of its environment, full of contrasts, warmth, design, history and tradition that translate into unique spaces, objects, aromas and flavors.

INTERIOR DESIGN The concept of interior design was created and designed by Ignacio Cadena and Jorge Madahuar in collaboration with Javier Sanchez’s firm. Public and private spaces interweave the concepts of neighborhood and cosmopolitan city. Industrial, technological and artisan processes merge to create the fresh and inclusive perception of a new hotel genre in Mexico City.

The new luxury “Carlota” speaks to us of a casual hotel that has been carefully planned and designed, from the honest selection of materials, unique objects such as sinks inspired by the neighborhood washing patios, to the perfectly executed furniture pieces in the rooms that fuse impeccable work in concrete and carpentry.

A hotel of intimate scale that has been “tailor-made” where in every detail recovered objects, artistic manifestations and exclusively designed pieces that give the “Carlota” an incomparable character are discovered. Extroverted gestures by plastic artists remind us of street expressions and speak to us of a bold hotel concept that moves away from ideas of exclusivity to become a new urban -node- that brings the neighborhood and its inhabitants closer, always seeking to build ties and sociocultural connections between visitors and neighbors.

For Déjate Querer working for a JSA PROJECT was super stimulating. The fist time we visited the hotel wasn't finished yet and could not stop imagining that space as it had been in its heyday, saw photos and we were amazed.

We were asked to wear the floor of the 9 suites. As every room was taken over by a different artist we seed the colors of the work that most draw our attention and incorporate them into our design.

For the central tables we use our NEBULAE design, in which each of its part is assembled to the next creating a net.

It was important to create a cozy atmosphere as all rooms have concrete floors that makes them a little cold, for the same reason it was important to cover the area around the beds. The CARLOTA Rug was design based on the movement of an hexagon, integrating colors in some pieces or only in the knit that binds them. The old Hotel Jardín Amazonas is transformed into an honest, expressive and urban place. Each element that makes up this new hotel is the result of a new history within design in Mexico. A cluster of concepts, unique pieces and multisensory experiences, build each space in Carlota as a result of the participation of a group of expert and creative Mexicans.

ARCHITECTURE

From the architectural perspective, led by the renowned firm of Javier Sánchez, the project follows a line of urban archeology. The recovery of a space in total decline in one of the neighborhoods with greater cultural activity in the city makes the Carlota a worthy oasis to enjoy the metropolitan landscape of Mexico City.

The hotel design is the outcome of a project whose mission was not only to renew but to achieve cohesion between past and present. Details such as the concrete finishes found throughout the structure of the facility, maintaining of some original features and the general layout of the hotel where spaces such as the library and the shop/ gallery seem to blur the barriers that separate them, make the Carlota a unique and special project.

INTEGRAL CONCEPT AND DESIGN

CADENA + ASOC. CONCEPT DESIGN ® led by Ignacio Cadena, set out to the task of creating a unique concept of experience. Fusing architecture, interior design and communication proposes a casual urban language that speaks to us of a contemporary, expressive and dynamic Mexico.

Carefully studying its immediate context and understanding the wonderful character of an iconic neighborhood such as the Cuauhtémoc, the Carlota hotel points to ideas of recovery and urban archeology, it unearths walls and discovers remnants of a vibrant neighborhood that is ready to be re-invented.

A few steps from the emblematic Paseo de la Reforma, the Carlota hotel pays homage to its past and looks to the future as a concept respectful of its environment, full of contrasts, warmth, design, history and tradition that translate into unique spaces, objects, aromas and flavors.

INTERIOR DESIGN

The concept of interior design was created and designed by Ignacio Cadena and Jorge Madahuar in collaboration with Javier Sanchez’s firm. Public and private spaces interweave the concepts of neighborhood and cosmopolitan city. Industrial, technological and artisan processes merge to create the fresh and inclusive perception of a new hotel genre in Mexico City.

The new luxury “Carlota” speaks to us of a casual hotel that has been carefully planned and designed, from the honest selection of materials, unique objects such as sinks inspired by the neighborhood washing patios, to the perfectly executed furniture pieces in the rooms that fuse impeccable work in concrete and carpentry.

A hotel of intimate scale that has been “tailor-made” where in every detail recovered objects, artistic manifestations and exclusively designed pieces that give the “Carlota” an incomparable character are discovered. Extroverted gestures by plastic artists remind us of street expressions and speak to us of a bold hotel concept that moves away from ideas of exclusivity to become a new urban -node- that brings the neighborhood and its inhabitants closer, always seeking to build ties and sociocultural connections between visitors and neighbors.