The project was presented by the project team and describes the reconfiguration of a small house in Naucalpan, Mexico City. This house was restored using remnants of the previous structure—a structure that, while not historically valuable, was sturdy enough for reuse.
The main approach of the project was to preserve the existing walls and foundations, yet they were not allowed to dictate the architectural language of the new intervention. This operation was not motivated by nostalgia; rather, it arose as an ecological and economic strategy allowing for the integration of what was already in place while maintaining the freedom to reinterpret the character of the building.
Additions were built from exposed concrete, creating a deliberate contrast with the restored elements. The original walls were covered with lime-based plaster mixed with natural pigments. This gave them a mineral and soft texture that harmoniously coexists with the controlled strictness of the new concrete volumes.
Oxidized steel lintels serve as visible seams marking the transition between what was expanded and what was preserved. These material details—lintels, textures, surface treatments—are the only signs of the house's hybrid state.
From the outside, the house appears closed off, deliberately turning away from the immediate urban surroundings. This decision was made in response to the desire for seclusion in a heterogeneous and visually fragmented environment. Thus, the main task was to create interiors that remained lit, ventilated, and open, despite the closed exterior appearance of the building.
A sequence of dormer windows, tall windows with unusual proportions, a backyard, and a 'parking yard' ensure the circulation of light and air inside. This creates a subtly poetic perception of time, as sunlight moves, projects, and transforms throughout the day.
The process of pouring exposed concrete also became part of the design: joints between pouring stages were scored to emphasize their manual nature. Furthermore, the layout of tiled floors using waterproofing tiles sometimes forms small accidental frescoes—quiet celebrations of craftsmanship and time embedded in the project.
The Casa Limoeiro project, developed by Mana Arquitetura, began with the acquisition of a cozy house dating from the 1940s, located in the Jardim Luzitânia neighborhood. This property represented an old desire of the owning family.
The client sought out Mana Arquitetura with the main goal of maintaining the essence and original spirit of the house, restoring the atmosphere of a vibrant, traditional home where she, her husband, their twin children, and the dog Amora could live in comfort.
One of the first interventions carried out was the removal of a structural wall that separated the living room. This action resulted in the expansion of the space and the establishment of a more organic connection between the living room, the staircase, and the kitchen. This opening promoted a complete transformation of the social area, injecting greater fluidity and luminosity into the space.
