24 Mexico City design studios transform an abandoned house into playful retreat

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Design House is an annual highlight on the Design Week Mexico calendar. This year’s edition sees an abandoned house transformed by 24 local interior designers and architects, each one restoring a room or outdoor area in their unique style. While the project reflects the diverse talent abounding in the 2018 World Design Capital, it simultaneously shows a variety of new approaches to design thinking currently brimming throughout Mexico City.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted with a vibrant bar by award-winning interior designer Sofía Aspe. Its walls, tiled and painted in quirky colours, lead to a fern-encased outdoor cove where drinks can be enjoyed while seated on metallic rocks.
In stark contrast to this light-washed space is a dark, candle-lit passage and staircase by EDAA that offers a meditative repose. The young studio, which focuses on architecture, graphic design, illustration and construction, has used its multifaceted approach to make the surfaces, textures and materials the subject here.
Another invitation for self-absorption comes from the zen-like bathroom by ADI. Here, Calacatta marble, oak, porcelain and gold accents combine with privacy screens and sultry illumination to present a relaxation haven that transports you miles away from the capital city.
A glass treehouse by Broissin offers a playful botanical space
Showcasing luxury through a ‘less is more’ approach is the 33 sq m rooftop studio by VGZ Arquitectura y Diseño – a self-sustaining abode making use of solar panels and a rainwater system. Structure-wide doors on either side open up completely to enlarge the living area, while the bed converts into a sofa and the kitchen table folds away, allowing the room to adjust to everyday needs.
Outdoors, a glass treehouse by Broissin has been wrapped around the trunk of a large ash tree, calling for playful exploration and total immersion in nature. Blink, and you might miss it.
Bar La Piedra by Sofía Aspe Interiorismo is a welcoming area of colourful tiles and quirky barware
An inviting space for reflection and relaxation, this bathroom has been designed by ADI to encourage disconnection from city stress
The master bedroom by Rhyzoma spills out onto a terrace, inviting nature into the everyday life of this home
This 33 sq m rooftop living pod by VGZ Arquitectura y Diseño is a luxurious interpretation of ‘less is more’
Raul de la Cerda Studio’s passageway represents the ability to change realities through the use of marble window structures that swivel to allow light in or restrict its entry
INFORMATION
Design House is open from 12-28 October. For more information, visit the Design Week Mexico website
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