CASA GUADALUPE

A lifetime of devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe guides the design of this house in San Ángel Inn, a neighborhood located on the west side of Mexico City.

The mantle that protects and covers the virgin, the main iconographic element, contains a cluster of pagan and catholic symbols that are the vehicle that carries her message, as well as the construction of faith around her. Its color combines the properties of water with those of earth.

These aspects are observed and then translated into a guiding architectural element, the mantle of the house, an irregular but continuous shape, with multi-faceted geometry that escorts the path and development of the interior spaces.

The layout of the architectural program was an important challenge, seeking to respond to the needs of a nonconventional nuclear family, as well as working spaces, proper lighting, and privacy. A versatile and functional set. Since the landholding was longer than wider, a transversal and a vertical division were defined in levels.

The main residential section was located in the back and is accessed from the side of the building, while the studio is located next to the main entrance. The amenities, such as the terrace, the pool, the game room and the bar, are located on the rooftop.

As to the materials, the turquoise concrete of the mantle prevails, while natural color concrete constitutes the rest of the structure. The interiors of the house are finished in white and wooden elements.

Casa Guadalupe is a renewed interpretation of an iconic element of the Mexican culture and a narrative of the character of the house’s inhabitant.

Project design: A-001 Taller de Arquitectura

Design team: Architect Miguel Patiño, Architect Arturo Olavarrieta, Architect Lizette Payno, Architect Christian Morales.

Structural design: Eng. Fernando Calleja.

Installations: Estar Arquitectura.

Landscape: Surroundings