Independent Work
port 2008-2014
01 faltohra ld e design phase: 2008
construction phase: 2010-2012
02 cc ae ns at r o design phase: 2012
construction phase: 2012-
axochiapan mor A
xochiapan is a small city located in the state of morelos, mexico, about two hours south from mexico city; with a population of 34,000. a geographically strategic city, with rural roads directly connecting three different states - guerrero, morelos, and puebla - and a very poorly-developed infrastructure and urban plan.
the current urban context, prevents any sort of appeal to embrace the surrounding environment. hence, the alternative to provide a means to “escape� the city becomes an attractive architectural concept. the following two projects are a response to this situation, and a site-specific answer to a requested program. both projects were conceived as a unique experience more than a space to its inhabitants.
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G R E E N S PA C E S AND RIVER
MAIN ROADS
C I V I C S PA C E S
STREETS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS
01 faltohra ld e
The property has been in the family for over four generations. The idea was to transform this space into an outdoor event venue/ restaurant.
the design was based on nostalgia, and was meant to have the least impact on the original architectural elements. a concept based on: saving, recyclying and re-arranging as many elements as possible. one of the main objectives was to keep the little room located in the middle of the site, where the current owner’s grandfather was born. this space was restored and turned into a small living space.
shingles were saved and re-used in the living space’s roof
the tractor, belonging to the grandfather was kept on site and used in the landscape the original adobe wall located at the southeast corner of the site was entirely saved and re-stored. the side facing the street was covered in cement to prevent any further damage this door gate was cut into pieces and used as a handrail in the roof terrace these were originally kitchen shelves used by the owner’s great-grandmother. they were saved, braced with ikea brackets and used as bookshelves in the living space
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SITE PLAN
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION
the construction was divided into three stages; the pace was determined by budget limitations.
DEMOLITION PLAN about 70% of the original property wall was kept. the structure was reinforced where necessary and the interior finish changed the curtain wall originally located in this room was re-cut and fit for the restaurant’s curtain wall there was an old abandoned iron gate on site which was restored and used as the new entry gate.
there was also a 10 month pause in the middle of stage 1 construction, coinciding my departure for grad school.
2008-2010
2015 2010-2012
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S TA G E 1 ( 2 0 1 0 ) FIRST FLOOR PLAN
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S TA G E 2 ( 2 0 1 2 ) ROOF PLAN
1 restaurant • 2 kitchen • 3 restaurant’s outdoor seating area • 4 living space (“la casa del abuelo”) • 5 storage/sound control room • 6 women’s restroom • 7 men’s restroom • 8 storage room (2012)/coffee shop (2015) • 9 roof terrace
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02 cc ae ns at r o
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very narow east-west site in the heart of the town located right across from the town’s main square - the main church, city hall, and the plaza which has been taken over by a local, arbitrary, street market. the building is meant to be a scape from all this chaos. the first floor is a rental space for commercial use. the second and third floor house a loft: a simple, open floor plan design which would allow for maximum flexibility in the future. the curtain wall on the east façade allows for direct east sunlight while allowing the inhabitant to take advantage of the downtown view, up above the busy street life
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1 commercial space • 2 entry to loft • 3 living/dining • 4 kitchen • 5 restroom • 6 terrace • 7 balcony • 8 sleeping area • 9 bridge • 10 indoor/outdoor balcony • 11 green roof A
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the site was acquired in 2005 and there were no plans for building anything in the near future. however, because of a city mandate, there was a need to start building “something.”
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FIRST FLOOR PLAN
the client hired a local architect to desing a one-story commercial unit with a potential for a second floor. and construction for the first floor began in 2006 and finished that same year. the project was then abandoned. the building remained unoccupied for the following 6 years.
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i took over this project early 2012, as a weekend job. not only was i limited by the site’s dimensions, but also by the first floor plan’s layout. the first step was to hire a structural engineer to come in and re-evaluate the construction’s status. after his approval to keep building up, the next steps were a new design and new city permits.
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
i had the privilege to take every design decision, from architecture to interior, from materials to furniture. and was given an open budget with the sole request for a contextually unique space.
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
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this project remains unfinished to this date.
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