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Michan Architecture

Michan Architecture

Mexico City

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AL Apartment

Michan Architecture inserts wooden object into residential apartment. 

Mexico City practice, Michan Architecture has completed a residential interior in the northeast part of Mexico City. The strategy for the design of the 360 sqm apartment was to place a wooden piece into the main space. This element inside of the unit, divides the space into half creating separated areas for public and private program. Living, dining and study are concave, while leaving private areas convex. Service spaces such as kitchen, laundry and service bedroom are the only program located outside of the concave/ convex object, they join part of the perimeter of the apartment. 

The course of the wall changes from one side to other, providing in its interior a variety of nooks and recesses for bathrooms and storage spaces. This arrangement allows service areas to be embedded into the wall, leaving spaces uncluttered. The inside of the wooden element hosts three bedrooms, walking closets and bathrooms; all lying under the convex poché. Throughout the insertion of an unrelated object into the space, multiple interiors are generated; as the object acts as the new outside, inside of the apartment

Rhythm and continuity are given by the object in the interior space, producing different guidelines inside of the apartment. The two corners of the object are carefully crafted and wrapped around curves to give a sense of fluidity and continuity; it begins as a wall with a piece of ceiling and as it extends towards the family room, the ceiling folds and wraps becoming a part of the furniture and generating a cozier area surrounded by wood. A steel extruded mesh works as a sculptural shelving wall, drawing a corridor along the living room to provide privacy to the bedroom’s entries.

This construction process explored a hybrid system using digital tools and local craftsmanship. It yields new forms of translation between digital processes based design and local constrains.

 
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Status: Built
Location: México Distrito Federal, MX
Additional Credits: Location : Mexico City, Mexico
Type : Commission, Residential
Status : Completed
Year : 2015
Team : Isaac Michan Daniel, Narcisso Martinez
Photography : Rafael Gamo