Abandoned Mexico City building gets new life as a vibrant mixed-use space

The district of La Roma, considered Mexico City’s hottest neighborhood, is home to this impressive overhaul of an old historic building that is now mixed-use and comprises retail and office space, as well as private residences. A daring example of adaptive reuse by Barcelona- and Mexico City-based studio Cadaval & Solà-Morales, the multi-level CH-Reurbano, as it’s called, features at its core an open, light-filled atrium, which allowed the formerly foundationally-compromised structure to reorient its load and establish a new function.

Exposed brick, concrete beams, and other architectural elements such as wooden floorboards, archways, and door frames have been retained from the original space. A series of white metal staircases and balconies connect each of the four floors, which face inward to a courtyard that gives the hefty construction ventilation and flow.

On the first floor are several business including a bike shop and market, on the second are small workspaces for startups and other entrepreneurial businesses, and on the third and fourth floors are apartments of various sizes and configurations. The roof has been transformed into an urban orchard.

According to a statement, the architects explained that the project was meant to be an example of “essential architecture,” “highlighting what is indispensable and removing what is not necessary. The project seeks for a harmonic relationship between the new and the old.” Take a look below.

Via: Architizer