La Luz 1126 Apartment Building / Edith Architecture + León Staines

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The concrete structure recalls the basic principles of modernism while organically integrating with the 1939 construction that will serve as contact with the public. The first bay and its facade stand as a testament to the austere yet enduring society that will now generate a vibrant relationship with future generations. The project is a juxtaposition of eras and materials, and at the same time, a testimony of how the present can coexist respectfully with the past.It is an architectural essay that seeks to respond to the challenges of housing in consolidated and historical areas of the city, focusing on a balance between commercial and the capacities that a traditional neighborhood should have. The setback of the building reaffirms respect for the scale and historical context of the constructions from the first half of the 20th century that surround it. It was decided to expose the noble materials, starting with its structure composed of columns and concrete slabs, a first level that reaffirms the project's base through the combination of exposed concrete with the original sills of the building; the brick configures the internal spaces creating a contrast with the structural elements and, on the terrace, it is placed laterally to create a lattice that allows for continued views of the city.Text description provided by the architects.Experimental housing project in downtownMonterrey, with five apartments and a commercial ground floor, respecting the historical part. La Luz 1126 is a project that understands its role in the geographical context where it is located. The active ground floor aims to become a meeting point in the neighborhood. The internal program is distributed through concrete platforms containing apartments that rise in half levels, culminating in two terraces that allow for panoramic views of downtown Monterrey and its mountains.