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Mexico City studios redesign 1940s house for Design Week Mexico

Mexico City architects and design studios have transformed a run-down villa into a design hub for this year's Design Week Mexico.

Organised by México Territorio Creativo (MXTC), the Design House is a three-storey residence with rooms curated by local studios to showcase a range of talent and materials.

Design Week Mexico 2019

"Professionals in architecture, design and interior design are divided between the building's spaces to turn them into a sample of different styles and trends, as well as a dialogue for creative cohabitation among firms," said MXTC.

Renovation work was needed to update the home, as many of its rooms had been abandoned long ago and were falling apart. Its rear garden was replanted by Jardín Sustentable and the exterior of the house was painted a fresh coat of green, reflecting the Colour of the Year for 2020 as chosen by many paint companies including Dulux and Behr.

Design Week Mexico 2019

C Cúbica Arquitectos overhauled the central space on the ground floor with a hollow marbled pit and large light overhead. The studio is also the founders of the city's design festival, and led by architects Andrea Cesarman, Emilio Cabrero and Marco Coello.

Also on the main level is a kitchen and living room designed by Lorena Vieyra of Vieyra Arquitectos, with several designs by Italian brand Cassina. These include upholstered, angular red chairs are by Gerrit Rietveld, a Veliero bookshelf and a leather Scighera sofa.

Design Week Mexico 2019

Adjoining it is a room that Verónica González of VGZ Arquitectura designed like a botanical library. Wood beams and shelves are filled with over 40 species of native Mexican plants.

A spiral stair leads upstairs, in addition to another stairwell painted with bright green steps.

Design Week Mexico 2019

On this level is a bathroom by Lucía and Andrea of Comité de Proyectos, with an oval terrazzo sink at in the middle, and rounded mirrors. Walls are textured cream and made of an ancient stucco from Mayans, called chukum.

Another room on the first storey also has earthen walls and chrome bars by Bernardi + Peschard Arquitectura. A terrace nearby has wood sculptures and sitting areas in a grey palette, created by Olga Hanono.

Design Week Mexico 2019

Another bedroom and living area were designed by GG Arquitectura, while MarqCó by Covadonga Hernandez took over a sitting room next to a rooftop patio with wooden pegs attached to a wall. Another room is coloured in mauve with spikey chandeliers by Studio Panebianco with Studio KAST and Thierry Jeannot.

On the second floor is a room without windows, designed like a courtyard with shimmery orange walls by Raúl de la Cerda Studio. The studio also created a gin lab next to it inspired in the Lost Generation of American writers who lived in Paris in the 1920s.

The room features teal walls painted by local artist Diego Beauroyre, custom velvet seating, marble, glass vessels and mirrors.

"It seeks to create a sensory experience for visitors, where the senses guide you through the aromas of the botanists, music, and the game of finishes, colours and textures taking them to a warm, calm and relaxed environment," said de la Cerda.

Design Week Mexico 2019

A glass cabinet full of greenery was created by Mexican landscaper Pedro Sanchez and Polen Atelier de Flores florist.

On the top level of the house is a rooftop patio filled with outdoor couches, dining areas and two bars, designed by VA Studio, Legorreta and Alonso Arquitectos.

Design Week Mexico 2019

In addition to these studios, others to partake in Design House include Aplenosol, Ducolab, Anuar Layón, Foam, Grid, Luis Ramírez, Rhyzoma, Studioroca, Taller Maya, Uribekrayer, VFO Arquitectos and VGZ Arquitectura.

Major brands like Kohler, LG, Porcelanosa, Crest, Saint-Gobain, Chukum and Arauco were also involved.

In its 11th edition, Design Week Mexico (DWM) is a celebration of local designers, architects and artists in Mexico City, with several events held for their craft to be presented to the public.

Design Week Mexico 2019

This year's design festival kicked off on 3 October with a party inside Design House, which is located at Aguiar y Seijas 140 in Mexico City's Lomas de Chapultepec neighbourhood. It will remain open to the public until 27 October.

Other activities at this Design Week Mexico 2019 included two-day festival called Diseño Contenido, or Design Content, where designers showcased new works in shipping containers. Local studio Davidpompa unveiled a slender floor lamp and a small table lamp during the event.

Photography is by Alfonso De Bejar.

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Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019
Design Week Mexico 2019