Although Mexico can boast with great pride at the international level its historical heritage, from those relating to periods of pre-hispanic influence and above all that heritage of the viceroyalty, its policies for the preservation of these buildings have not been implemented in the best way, except for some cities among which the most outstanding is the capital and some others of the central region, obviously.
Likewise, within the Bajio region, there are cities in which it is still possible to find vestiges of the great urban centers that formed this region. However, during the last century, the rapid growth of industry and modernization brought as a consequence oversights to urban development and despoil of the built heritage, irretrievably losing invaluable properties under the pretext of progress.
However, as mentioned above, not everything is summarized in loss, because despite the fact that San Miguel de Allende is not such an important city in its industry or politics, does set a very important precedent for all of them as far as the valuation of their heritage respects. And it is thanks to projects like “El Recinto” that it is taking a remarkable relevance in recent years.
This project, developed by Mario Herrera Holgado, beyond rescuing historical vestiges is valuable in its desire to respect the urban context in which it is located forming a harmonious urban ensemble with its neighbors despite being so bold in the proposal, since maintaining a ground floor so open, which allows it to be more flexible in use, does not cause discordances with its neighbors, the opposite, by its materiality and modulation of openings and massifs reinforces its relationship with the nearby facades.
This project, for its use, and limited capacity, joined with its proportion of private spaces against those of collective use, maintains an atmosphere that stands out for its privacy and warmth. Also, its exterior areas, correctly proportioned to the height of the built volumes that let their shadow fall to protect them from the aggressive sun of the region presume to be the place indicated to rest after touring the streets or a hot afternoon.
The collective spaces feel like domestic spaces, that evoke a feeling of greater familiarity and therefore builds a community among its residents. The private spaces are not radically different, because despite the fact that it perfectly achieves the worthy recollection of a room also lives in a good way what happens in the exterior areas through its windows and balconies.
This accommodation, due to the proportion of collective spaces with those for private use, offers us a new hospitality that allows us to live the destination in first person, the closest to the real experience of the inhabitants, in which we feel closer to neighbors of the neighborhood than tourists.
Team:
Architect: Mario Herrera Holgado
Photographer: Onnis Luque
Materials used:
Facade cladding: Oxical
Flooring: Volcanic Stone
Doors: Wood
Windows: Glass
Roofing: Wood
Interior lighting: Tecnolite
Interior furniture: Castel
