Sustainability Report

The design strategy was centrally focused on minimizing embodied carbon through preservation and resourceful reuse:

• Conservation of Existing Structure: The project prioritized conserving the original industrial warehouse structure, including the existing perimeter walls of concrete and brick and the barrel-vaulted roof. This strategy significantly limited demolition waste and avoided the high embodied carbon associated with new construction.

• On-Site Material Reuse: A key innovation was the reuse of materials already available on site, specifically steel plates found on the property, which were repurposed to construct the suspended planter. This avoided the need to source and transport new steel.

• Local Sourcing: Local cantera stone was carefully sourced from Querétaro, and regional vegetation and trees were selected, simplifying logistics and reducing transportation emissions.

• Preservation of Finishes: The project preserved the pre-existing concrete floors, eliminating the need for new, carbon-intensive flooring materials.

Operational efficiency was achieved through passive and strategic design:

• Natural Ventilation/Lighting: The design maximizes the use of natural light and incorporates features like the exterior garden, tree shadows, and a smooth transition between interior and exterior to create a visual dynamic that reduces reliance on artificial lighting during the day.

• Optimized Air Quality/Ventilation: The suspended planter structure serves a practical function by supporting the extraction of teppanyaki smoke and optimizing lighting and air movement, which contributes to a cleaner, more energy-efficient environment than traditional HVAC solutions might require.