Mini-Studio in Mexico City by FRENTEarquitectura

This artist's studio by Mexican practice FRENTEarquitectura is folded into a small space between three existing buildings in Mexico City.

Above photograph is by Paul Czitrom.

A suspended mezzanine divides the double-height space and light enters through high-level windows, while glossy epoxy resin flooring helps to brighten the space.

The upper floor projects outwards to protect the interior from direct sunlight.

Beneath this overhanging sloped roof, large glazed doors open onto the garden.

FRENTEarquitectura have also designed a house in Mexico City where the upper level cantilevers over a thin strip of garden. See all of our stories about Mexico City here.

Photography is by Onnis Luque except where otherwise stated.

Here are some more details from FRENTEarquitectura:

This Mini-Studio, limited to only 27sqm of footprint, is nestled in a small gap originally occupied by a storage-room (between 3 existing constructions), in the backyard of a middle-class house in Mexico City.

Being an artistic workshop and due to the south orientation of the site, the main challenge was to avoid the entry of direct sunlight into the space, without cancelling the view towards the garden. To achieve this, the upper-level volume thrusts itself southward to project its shadow over the large (ground-floor) window that connects the studio with the exterior.

The sloped roof slabs block away the sun rays from the working area, allowing the subtle entrance of uniform light over the double-height ceilings which communicate both levels, amplifying the scale.

The mezzanine gently rests over a wall at the back of the studio and launches itself towards the exterior dissolving the outline marked by the floor, to end suspended over the garden integrating it to the space. At the same time, the ground-floor glazed door, opens from side to side to completely vanish the border between interior and exterior.

Click above to see larger image.

A small gesture at the top of the façade produces a size changing triangular shadow throughout the day, providing movement to the volume. Using trapezoidal shapes and with a careful control of perspective, vanishing points are emphasized, achieving a dynamic and fluid space that awakens imagination while stimulating creativity.

Click above to see larger image.

Name of the Project: Mini-Studio
Typology: Studio
Location: Colonia Del Valle, Mexico City
Constructed Area: 48sqm
Footprint: 27sqm
Construction Year: 2011