The primary objective of this project is the preservation and rehabilitation of a group of heritage-listed buildings located in the Colonia Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. The complex occupies a site of approximately 1,098 square meters and is composed of two distinct groups of buildings with different architectural and spatial characteristics.
The first group, located at the corner of Agustín Melgar and Zamora streets, consists of four buildings that form a continuous and homogeneous urban façade. Their rhythmic openings and direct entrances from the sidewalk establish a strong relationship with the city, while the sculptural silhouette of the upper façade line reinforces the architectural unity of the ensemble.
The second group is composed of two buildings set back from Zamora Street. These structures present a more domestic scale, configured as a pair of independent and repetitive dwellings with private front setbacks that act as transitional spaces between the public street and the interior of the properties.
The intervention strategy proposes the restoration of the exterior bays of the heritage buildings while selectively removing interior constructions of lesser architectural value. The restoration is carried out with minimal intervention, preserving the structural façade walls and the main spatial configuration of the original buildings. Some interior partitions are carefully modified to improve spatial continuity and natural lighting.
The preserved buildings at the corner of Agustín Melgar and Zamora—due to their direct relationship with the street—are adapted for more public uses. The ground-floor level accommodates commercial spaces while maintaining the original entrances and façade openings. The upper level, accessed through the restored historic staircase of Agustín Melgar 43, is designated for office spaces. Vehicular access to the interior of the site is maintained through Zamora 17, which also provides the pedestrian entry and security control for the residential complex.
Within the newly liberated interior area of the site, a contemporary residential building is introduced as a secondary element, positioned behind the historic structures to preserve their urban prominence. The ground level of the new construction is largely open—containing only the circulation cores for stairs and elevators—in order to maximize the free and landscaped interior space.
The new residential building grows vertically through a square structural core measuring 10.2 by 10.2 meters. The first two levels contain duplex apartments, while the six upper levels—rising above the height of the heritage buildings—accommodate the remaining residential units in different typologies. The upper floors adopt a more open geometric configuration that captures distant views of the city while clearly distinguishing the new architecture from the historic structures.
The new volume is intentionally set back from the street and perceived primarily through oblique views, allowing the historic buildings to remain the primary urban presence. In scale and expression, the new construction relates not to the small historic houses but to the broader skyline of the city, particularly given the proximity of the site to major urban corridors and taller surrounding buildings.
The overall project combines restored and newly constructed spaces to create a mixed-use development consisting of 20 residential units, 6 commercial spaces, and 4 office units located within the rehabilitated heritage buildings. Additional program elements include pedestrian and vehicular access, a basement parking level, two elevators, a central staircase core, interior open space, and terraces.
The new construction occupies nine levels above grade and one parking level below grade. The parking level is positioned at -1.70 meters to minimize excavation and avoid structural impact on the protected buildings and neighboring properties. The parking structure is also separated from the historic walls to prevent potential structural interference.
Together, the project proposes a careful balance between preservation and contemporary intervention, maintaining the historic identity of the site while introducing new residential density within the interior of the block.
