Inca Hernández was raised by two forestry engineers. “My parents taught me the value of sustainable construction and ecological-cultural responsibility,” the young architect says. His story has been a “small odyssey,” a voyage of appreciating that we can imagine the future and remember the past.
Which is exactly what he did to transform a downtrodden, abandoned mansion in historic Tacuba, Mexico City into modern housing for young professionals, many of whom grew up in the neighborhood. The manse now looks clean and contemporary inside and out, while treasured artisanal details were carefully restored and stand out, including iron railings, glass roof tiles, and large windows.
“The residents wanted a multifunctional, interconnected space that would allow them to form a community for living, working, resting, or simply perceiving the silence or light through the canopy of a tree,” notes Hernández.
The “Mar Mediterráneo 34” heritage home unites two eras. Mar (“sea” in Spanish) appears often on the neighborhood map because Tacuba streets were named after seas of the world at the start of the 20th century.
The house was constructed in 1910 for a family of French merchants during an industrial boom. “It’s full of stories from its neighbors and inhabitants,” the architect says. But during the Mexican Revolution, the area and the house were abandoned, falling into great disrepair. The whole neighborhood declined by the mid-20th century.
“Many of these eclectic Victorian styles went into a state of collapse,” Hernández says. “After more than 50 years, we began the process of rehabilitation, helping rescue the building and the urban identity for future generations.”
“We gave a second life to a ruin,” Hernández says.
The place was originally a country house for a family of four, but the three refurbished levels now hold seven housing units to accommodate 20 people. “We gave a second life to a ruin,” notes the architect. The new design features lofts and plentiful light, reusing the pre-existing double heights but respecting the heritage elements.
The purity of the color white connects the past and present and provides a “blank canvas” for each inhabitant, says Hernández, who is based in Mexico City. “We are reclaiming lost spaces without increasing the urban footprint,” he says. In addition to recycling construction material, he notes, many of the interiors are furnished with restored vintage pieces that, like the grand building, have cyclical use.
Photography by João Morgado.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.