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The Tonalá 15 project, located in the Roma neighborhood, in CDMX, arises from the need to adapt to a triangular plot at the intersection of Insurgentes, the longest avenue in the city, and Tonalá Street. The inspiration comes from the idea of creating an element that stands out for its simplicity and materiality while being integrated with the urban context. It actively seeks the revitalization of the urban area, aiming to generate a positive impact both on the local economy and on the quality of life of the community's inhabitants. This approach not only emphasizes the aesthetic and functional importance of architectural design but also underscores its crucial role in creating environments that promote social connection, contributing to the sustainable development of urban areas.
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The design takes advantage of the building's concrete structure to create a clean and simple grid on the facades facing the avenues, with floor-to-ceiling windows and tilting the columns on the ground floor towards the interior of the building, creating a gesture of openness towards the street.
The building proposes a mixed-use of housing, which includes short, medium, and permanent housing. This generates richness in the interaction of users in the project due to the variety of uses.
Furthermore, the project solves the layout on a small plot with a shape of a triangle, managing to fit 4 apartments per floor in that small area. As a result, at the tip of the building, a plaza is created that functions as a public space, generating a significant social impact, a concession to the city.
The entire structure of the building is constructed using pigmented exposed concrete in an earthy tone, which gives it the ability to age, allowing the project to gain more character over time. This material is also used for its malleability to shape all the curves of the project, demonstrating its versatility. In the basement, only bicycle parking is provided, aiming to discourage car use, promoting public transportation and green mobility with zero emissions. The building also has a rainwater harvesting system for an alternative hydraulic system, betting on sustainability in the project. Likewise, as a passive strategy, a "vertical oasis" was created thanks to the public plaza, planters on different floors, and the roof garden, contributing to the generation of clean air for the city.
The development of the project encompasses three modules, which are connected by two vertical circulation cores. On the ground floor, entry to the building is through the central module, where the lobby and a sitting area are located. Additionally, two stores are incorporated. The first two modules consist of one apartment per floor, while the last one is divided to accommodate two residences. This distribution was created by taking advantage of the facade, with the purpose of providing views from each of the dwellings towards the two streets surrounding the project, as well as improving the accessibility of the building. On the top level, space is allocated for two terrace areas that offer panoramic views of the city. The common spaces were strategically designed to promote interaction among inhabitants, creating a route that begins in the public plaza, entering through the access on the side of the second module towards the lobby and then through the panoramic elevators and stairs, reaching the terraces, ending in the roof garden. The experience in the vertical circulations, is practical and with views of the street, minimizing the distance from the entrance to the door of each apartment, helping to optimize the habitable surface. The stairs have a ribbed pigmented concrete texture on the ground floor and a black steel structure, which becomes a sculptural element on the following floors and generates floating landings visible on both sides of the building.
Landscaping is very important in all the firm's projects, hence this accompaniment on all levels of the building, so that there is no space in the ensemble without vegetation. The building is recognizable in the area, a landmark that integrates with the city, elevating urban aesthetics. The most rewarding thing for the firm is to visit it and see the variety of different users coexisting harmoniously within it, creating community.
CRB Arquitectos is a young firm located in Mexico City.
The firm is distinguished by the constant rhythm and symmetry in its projects. It seeks sober designs that result from a harmonious integration between interior and exterior, structure and facade, grids and recesses, and play of openings.
CRB Architects always seek to integrate architecture with landscaping; this is a hallmark of the firm.
