La Penúltima

This project involves the renovation of a restaurant that redefines its operation throughout the day to adapt to the routines of its users. The central idea emerges from the need to offer, during working hours, a functional and appealing space for people who work in the area, which then transforms at night into a more relaxed meeting point to gather and enjoy drinks in a different atmosphere.

Its location was a decisive factor in the design decisions. Situated in Colonia Juárez, Mexico City, the project responds to a context of high daily activity and constant pedestrian flow. The goal was to capture the attention of those passing by, creating a visually attractive space that invites people to enter. One of the main challenges of the site was the limited natural lighting, so the architectural strategy focused on bringing “life” to the space through a palette of neutral tones complemented with color accents, along with a carefully designed lighting intervention.

Before becoming a restaurant, the property had a completely different use, which required a process of spatial and functional reinterpretation. As a renovation, the existing structure conditioned the design of the new layout. Key elements such as the bar and restroom locations were preserved and integrated coherently into the new spatial proposal. This condition led to an optimization of the space and a design exercise that dialogues with the preexisting elements, transforming them without losing their original logic.

The selection of materials was based on the established budget and a collaborative process between the client and the studio, using an initial moodboard that guided design decisions both aesthetically and functionally. The result is a warm and versatile space, capable of adapting to different atmospheres throughout the day.

Beyond the physical renovation, the project represents an exercise in spatial reactivation, demonstrating how design can transform a previously dark and unused place into an active and appealing destination. The intervention highlights the value of what already existed and showcases the potential of architecture to adapt defined structures to new forms of use and experience.