A momentum beyond doubt

PA: We have seen that Mexico's vast biodiversity and geography shape its people and in turn, its architecture. The country's unique historical, economic, and political blend adds to this distinctiveness. Mexican architecture reflects the welcoming nature of its people. It has grown and gained global recognition, partly due to social media and the craftsmanship in Mexican architecture, particularly over the past 15-20 years. In Mexico, architects often engage directly in construction, gaining valuable insights from contractors and applying these learnings to new projects. This collaborative approach is key to the evolving identity of Mexican architecture. Also, when we look at contemporary Mexican architecture, I believe there's an emerging movement. Around ten years ago, the "Mexican moment" marked a new evolution in architecture by architects now in their 50s. As emerging architects, we are influenced by them, and there's an undeniable energy and momentum in our field.

CA: Mexican architecture uniquely blends pre-colonial cultures with European influences. It's not just about emulating styles; it's about incorporating elements like light, darkness, and grandeur into contemporary designs. This is a source of inspiration, constantly driving us towards innovative architectural expressions. Pedro mentioned the affordability of craftsmanship in Mexico, which is a double-edged sword. While technology is limited, this compels us to work closely with skilled workers, creating unique and intricate details in our buildings.

SS: In Mexico, there's still plenty of space to develop. Previously, only well-travelled experts knew about global architectural projects. Now, thanks to social media and platforms, everyone can explore and draw inspiration from worldwide designs. I believe this practice of borrowing ideas and adapting them to Mexico City enhances our cultural roots. Travel has been invaluable for us, not just in gathering global insights but also in knowing when to infuse our projects with our local heritage rather than merely importing foreign architectural concepts.

Seeking out opportunities

PA: Facing crises has been synonymous with opportunity for us. Since opening our office in 2017, we've endured the biggest earthquake since the 80s and the COVID pandemic. These challenges have strengthened us, forcing us to adapt and seek work proactively. Unlike most in Mexico, we regularly participate in competitions, enjoying experimentation and applying what we have learned to real projects. Initially, we expected to work mostly in Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities. Surprisingly, most of our projects are now in other parts of Mexico like Tulum, Cozumel, and Los Cabos, and even internationally. This diversity in location enriches our work, as each project is unique in its context, climate, needs, materials, and community. I believe our work's geographical shift is due to Mexico City being the economic hub. Most of our clients are connected to the city, but since COVID, there's been a trend of decentralising investments and moving away from overpopulated areas towards nature. This change has opened up numerous opportunities for us outside Mexico City.

Converging beginnings

SS: As Pedro mentioned, our journey began in 2017, marked by the challenge of the earthquake. A significant early milestone was participating in and winning a competition in Veracruz. It was emotionally impactful. Although the project wasn't built, the prize money allowed us to buy computers, essential to start our office. Starting without a concrete project was perhaps irresponsible, but it drove us to actively seek out projects and investments, often working on initiatives that weren't yet commissioned. This proactive approach was crucial in our early days. 

Before starting our practice, Pedro, Cristóbal (who are brothers), and I were friends. I've known Pedro since we were 8, sharing our school years together. Interestingly, we each attended different universities, Pedro and Cristóbal in Mexico City, and I studied in Dallas with a stint in Barcelona. Upon returning to Mexico City, I proposed to Pedro and Cristóbal the idea of opening an office. We first decided to participate in competitions to understand our professional compatibility, knowing friendship doesn't always translate to a harmonious architectural partnership. This phase was enjoyable and enlightening, as our diverse educational backgrounds brought unique perspectives to the table.

PA: One cherished memory is our participation in the Premio Felix Candela, an international ideas competition hosted by the Instituto Español de Arquitectura. Unlike typical competitions where you submit work and move on, this one was academically focused and highly interactive. Out of around 600 entries, we were among the 10 selected for workshops with Spanish tutors to develop our project further. This process was incredibly enriching, allowing us to meet and learn from our peers gaining insight into what others in our generation were thinking. The week-and-a-half-long development led to our fortunate first-place win that fostered a lasting relationship with the organisation.

Towards experimentation

PA: We believe using diverse tools during the design process greatly enriches our architecture. We are polytechnical in our approach. As Cristóbal noted, we start with thorough site research. Hand drawing is a vital step for us, serving as a form of meditation and a quick method to explore various options. After exhaustive sketching, we shift to digital tools, designing in 3D or 2D, and creating diagrams and graphics. Collages are another crucial tool for expressing our ideas and narrating our projects. The key for us is the integration of various tools, both analogue and digital, which is essential in creating the unique architecture we produce today.

Central to our approach is the human experience in architecture. Our projects are categorised into four types: social, interpersonal, personal, and experimental, each reflecting different human relationships and emphasising our focus on creating spaces that enhance human engagement and perception. A personal project might reflect an individual's thoughts on architecture, while interpersonal projects involve a smaller group, like a family. Social projects engage larger groups. Empathy for inhabitants and experimentation are key. Experimentation occurs through competitions, installations and other projects like furniture design and printed publications.

Becoming contextually responsive

CA: We find the research process thrilling as it allows us to learn deeply about Mexico's vast and complex cultural and bioclimatic diversity. The country, rich in cultural layers, blends pre-colonial and European influences with various indigenous cultures within. Mexico's linguistic diversity is notable, with 68 languages spoken alongside Spanish, especially in local communities where native languages prevail.

SS: Travelling across Mexico is enlightening for us, exposing us to its cultural and linguistic diversity. We see architecture as a global practice and aim to collaborate nationally and internationally with local architects. Our experiences in Costa Rica and Chile, involving local architects in the conceptual stages, have been like master classes in understanding various global building methods. These insights significantly enhance our architectural skills. Our active social media presence extends our reach beyond Mexico City, showcasing our constantly updated portfolio to a wide audience. This visibility helps us gain trust and attract projects outside our base city. Potential clients, often around our age, are more inclined to engage us due to our active online presence and relatable demographic. 

PA: Our office structure has evolved significantly over the past seven years. Initially, it was just the three of us handling everything. We started working with interns as we grew, marking an essential phase where we learned to collaborate as a team. Our project approach varies with each location, considering regional materials, techniques, and conditions. However, our initial process is consistent: we conduct in-depth research on the area's architecture, materials, climate, and geography. This preparation informs our design, helping us understand the site and client needs before we begin. Crucially, we collaborate closely with local contractors for their expertise on building methods, materials, and costs, ensuring our designs are innovative and well-integrated with the local environment.

Developing the approach

CA: We're currently working on projects across various locations: Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, La Paz, Mexico City, Toluca,, Cuernavaca, Tepoztlán, Cozumel, Tulum and Puerto Escondido. Beyond Mexico, we're constructing a house in Costa Rica and working on a concept for prefabricated housing project in the US. 

PA: We are quite excited about two of our new projects. First, Tana, a nearby restaurant bar in Polanco. What's unique about it is how we treated it like any other architectural project. Despite its small size, we approached it with the same dedication as if it were a massive building. Initially lacking defining features, we transformed a 65-square-metre space into cave-like designed bar. Throughout the construction process, we closely collaborated with the workers, leaving room for creative improvisation. This project was created using BIM (building information modelling), as we do for all of our projects, which represents our commitment to even the smallest projects, with around 60 to 70 detailed plans.

SS: Another interesting project we thoroughly enjoyed, both in the design phase and during construction, was a weekend home in Tepoztlan, Morelos, about an hour and a half south of Mexico City. The site's most striking feature is its proximity to a large mountain, significantly influencing our design choices. We aimed to seamlessly incorporate the mountain's presence into the house, creating an architecture that harmonises with the landscape, avoiding any competition. We matched the concrete's colour to the earth's soil, giving the structure a natural, stone-like appearance, as though rocks tumbled from the mountain to form a man-made hill. This project closely mimics the mountain's topography, effortlessly blending in. Pedro mentioned the Felix Candela project, which significantly impacted us and helped us gain recognition in Mexico. Its main concept, one of our strongest, was offering an exterior museum experience as you walk the facade. Our challenge encompassed all of Mexico's architectural history, so we divided it into five stages, each represented by specific geometries within the building's mesh. This concept, with stuck volumes inside, defines some of our projects. Whether they're built or not, like the 15-metre restaurant Pedro mentioned, we pour our passion and attention to detail into every design, driven by our love for our profession.

Side activities nurture the practice

PA: We find that collages and sketches are invaluable tools in our design process, akin to how a model or a sketch can assist us. During the initial stages, we create numerous collages to explore the atmospheres we aim to evoke in the project. It's also a means to involve the client in our design journey. Some clients appreciate and understand this approach, while others prefer more traditional representations like renders. Collages are vital for experimenting with various forms, spaces, and perspectives we wish to incorporate. Over time, they have become a defining element in our office, almost like a portrait of the project. If you want a glimpse into a project, we select a collage. We bring them to life, using them to convey the project's narrative, concept, or any interesting aspects of the site. You can explore sketches, floor plans, sections, renders, or project photos when you click on an image. We take pleasure in it, and we continuously seek to evolve our representation methods.

SS: We enjoy research activities, which sometimes translate into experimentation in the editorial field, both digital and physical. Our website, for instance, mainly features two tabs: one for architects and art enthusiasts who appreciate representation and illustrations and another for clients who prefer final construction images. These tabs cater to both audiences. As we've discussed, the initial sketch serves as the basis for the storyboard and evolves into a collage and, eventually, a GIF. Architects value the project's concept, which we emphasise by representing movement in the gif. For instance, you might see a facade with holes symbolising the project's main idea or a child placing and removing blocks to illustrate the concept. In the case of the Felix Candela project, we show the removal of the facade, which represents the building's exterior and the museum, with holes signifying the various global architectural styles that influenced the project. We aim to convey the project's core concepts in around 80% of our gifs. Post-COVID, communication ceased, leading to a disconnect. We created a book, “30 Días proyectando”, to reconnect with new architects we admire, not as competitors but as sources of inspiration. Featuring 30 offices we appreciate, the book helped re-establish connections. It served as a turning point, enhancing our interactions and relationships more than before the pandemic.