처음 Garden Amazonas 호텔을 구글링했을 때, 우리가 발견한 것은 그저 그런 70년 대 풍 데코와 인조 잔디, 수영장 옆에서 햇살을 즐기는 흔한 사진들이나 발견할 수 있는 '모텔'의 흔한 구조 그 이상으로는 도저히 볼 수 없는 허름한 호텔이었다. 이제 그 낡고 볼품없는 모텔같던 호텔은 섬세하고 특별한 터치를 더한 36개의 룸을 갖춘 멋진 호텔로 탈바꿈하였다.
어떤 것을 제거하고, 또 어떤 것을 남길 것인지에 대한 깊은 통찰을 통해 발랄하면서도 점진적인 발견의 탐험과정을 갖춘 지금의 모습은 현재 문화적으로도 매우 활기찬 이 지역에 매우 적절하게 어울린다.
This project had as its starting point a project of urban archeology. We find a property in total decay, formerly called Garden Amazonas Hotel, we quickly googled it and saw a couple of photos of its heyday where we were primarily drawn to the central courtyard as an oasis within the city, and the seventies decoration, artificial grass and the clothes of those who were photographed sunbathing by the pool. There was nothing left of that hotel other than the typical structure of a motel with exterior corridors overlooking the courtyard as well as countless layers of coatings, aggregates, steps, and ceilings. Today the hotel has 36 rooms, each with a special touch.
Architects: JSa
Location: Río Amazonas 73, Col. Renacimiento, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
Architectural Design: Javier Sánchez + Aisha Ballesteros
Design Team: JSa, Laura Natividad, Dania Gutiérrez, Jimena González Sicilia, Juan Jesús Pérez, Gerardo Fonseca
Project Area: 1326.0 m2
Project Year: 2015
Photographs: Camila Cossío, Rafael Gamo
The facade, which we decided to keep intact, was probably remodeled in the eighties, wanting to impose an air of modernity to the building they covered it with an enclosure finished in glass mirror. Colonia Cuauhtemoc, which today is a very culturally active area, shared the same process of deterioration for several years when the periphery competed with the central city. The decision of what to keep and what to remove was a playful and gradual discovery process.
We even decided to prevent access on the facade and build a new one on the side, in the neighboring parking lot to change the narrative of circulation and cause a surprise making visitors come in directly to this central courtyard that we had idealized in the photographs. In the process, in addition to removing and showing the different layers, we also decided to provide some powerful elements that could give cohesion and unity to the project. The concrete structure of the existing building can be seen in every common area and hotel room.
The central courtyard becomes the busiest public space, the restaurant, which is designed under the same criteria of the hotel. The shop / gallery and library spaces are integrated with each other, they break the boundaries between them and create the feeling of no limits defining them independently; the library has a cozy enclosure through the atmosphere and furniture.
The lattice of black concrete blocks is connected with these objectives of spatial relations, but also provides privacy and enriches the journey to the rooms. These have a living condition inside that depends on the guest, some even have private roof terraces to sunbathe and enjoy the vertical urban landscape of Mexico City.
The interiors are done in collaboration with a team of Mexican designers who took care of every detail of the spaces, from concrete furniture with inlaid custom wood and lighting fixtures, even the bathroom fixtures, producing each piece according to each room. Contemporary art interventions cover some walls of the rooms giving a touch of color and creating a unique spatial experience.
