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This project engages in compelling dialogue with the Periférico, the avenue that separates the two volumes, as well as with its urban context. It is located close to San Ángel, a historic and colonial neighborhood. These, in turn, coexist with the modern high office towers and apartments located on the Periférico, in addition to incomparable views. Volumetrically, the buildings were built using parallelepipeds of 115 and 165 meters in height; a pair of subtractions generates two large voids in each tower. Triple-height open green spaces were installed in the voids, creating a series of terraces that were strategically designed to accommodate around 200 trees per tower, including lemon, orange, shade trees, sweetgum and plum trees.
The fact that they are separate lots, separated by the Periférico, influences their relationship with neighboring properties, which is why the orientation solution, the triple-height courtyards and views of the city are different. Periférico 2008 is oriented east-west with views of the Colonial District of San Ángel, while Periférico 1977 is oriented north-south towards the emblematic Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatll volcanoes, with the other ICON San Ángel building providing an extremely important visual.
Thanks to footprint design of 583.3 m2 (Periférico 1977) and 905.8 m2 (Periférico 2008) respectively, it was possible to preserve the maximum construction area allowed for each property at 21,000 m2 and 35,000 m2above sidewalk level, respectively. This includes basements in both towers, which made it possible to address the regulatory requirement of a 15-story orthogonal building with a mere 20% of open space per property. It evolved into two towers, one with 30 stories and the other with 44 stories, with 50% and 56% of open space respectively. This separates them from the street and their surroundings to keep the complex private and peaceful, while providing better living conditions for the apartment inhabitants. .
Amenities in both towers include a gym, swimming pool, spa, business center, toy library, library and movie theater, and both buildings feature a rooftop terrace, all for the exclusive benefit and use of all residents. This type of amenities and services are not common in the area, so they provide recreational facilities that are different from those generally available. There is also a Kids Club, a 10 m x 6 m triple-height space, with bright, unsaturated colors like red and green, and friendly and smooth textures that make it ideal for children. The project also features triple-height open terraces in each tower, generating outdoor living spaces that soar above 100 m. The span-to-mass ratio in the main volume was carefully designed to contrast with the common typologies of glass-fronted buildings in the area's urban context while providing natural light and ventilation in all apartments. The interior concept for the shared areas is characterized by large spaces and heights, where natural materials such as wood and white marble combine with works of art that enrich the spaces. In all cases, these works of art provide a visual accent and stimulate emotions, as do the lobby sculptures for both projects, which were created by the artist Aldo Chaparro. The painting in the toy library by Julio Fabila is another example. He sought to create a mural that would inspire the children to explore a vast and unconventional planet.
The project improves the lives of its inhabitants by connecting them with more open areas and greenery than other vertical residential complexes that are common in the city. It challenges the old urban norms of how living spaces should be designed, introducing the luxury of living in these elevated spaces. Its relationship by framing one of the most important avenues in the city, together with all the other factors mentioned, make ICON San Ángel a new architectural and urban icon in the city.
Established in Mexico City in 2020, BRAG Arquitectos was born after seven years of working together in the design and construction of projects. It is led by Santiago Morales Broc and Cristian Aguilar. Currently they have more than 40 projects, between built and under construction, most of them located in the central neighborhoods of the Valley of Mexico. For example, the Roma, Condesa, Del Valle and Narvarte neighborhoods, to mention a few.
They stand out mainly for the construction and development of multifamily housing, they use regulatory instruments as their main tool and develop creative solutions for the implementation of sustainable mechanisms in each project.
The practice of BRAG Arquitectos is not limited only to the residential field, as other types of projects such as cultural centers or public space are equally important in the development of a conscious city for the benefit of all its inhabitants.
