Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects

Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Image 2 of 27Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Windows, FacadeRecycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - WindowsRecycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Windows, FacadeRecycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - More Images+ 22

Mexico City, Mexico

Text description provided by the architects. The strong territorial expansion of Mexico City in recent decades led to the carelessness and decay of many of the neighborhoods with most history and tradition as Condesa, Roma, Juarez and others. Properties that during the last century belonged to families of the Mexican high society today are not only but old fogies and debris damaged by the accumulation of years without maintenance. In recent years, this deterioration was used by Mexican architects to begin recycling the neighborhoods, using old buildings and turning them into pieces of modern architecture which led to these areas again to be the most expensive and desired of the Country’s Capital.

Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Windows
© Jimena Carranza

Sinaloa 193 is a last-century building located in the Colonia Roma used to be training center of Banco del Atlántico, then stayed in the dropout causing it to be invaded and appropriated by a group of people. Years later it was recovered by the HSBC Bank and released.

Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Windows
© Jimena Carranza

The project has 26 apartments on 6 levels, ranging from 56m2 to 110m2. The architecture aims to be modern but simple, unpretentious, warm and very natural. We sought contrasts between industrial and natural elements, textures cold as steel and aluminum with warm textures such as stone and wood. The views were not very good so we wanted a landscape design to serve as a curtain, sculptural elements on the idea of recycling scrap pieces heavily polluting materials turned into nests of plants. The courtyards that were once only for the service, are now living gardens with trees and plants, likewise, much of the roof became green areas.

Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects - Windows, Facade
© Jimena Carranza

The landscape design includes traditional species such as the Mexican Nopal. There are also ferns, bamboos etc. Some plants were chosen within the theories of Feng Shui such as the Cactus which sought a blue species that represents the strength of winter and without thorns that are regarded as darts or poisoned arrows. Some of the aloes used are rare species which we wanted to preserve.

landscape shades

The idea was the rebirth of a dead building in the XXI century and used as a space not only for what it was created, housing, but also as a museum of plants, a space for the preservation of species a home for the waste that pollute our country and an example to follow recycling our city.

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Mexico City, D.F., Mexico

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Recycled Building / Alonso de Garay Architects" 25 May 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/136967/recycled-building-alonso-de-garay-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

© Jimena Carranza

重复循环建筑 / Alonso de Garay Architects

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.