West End House

The refurbishment of a 1950s modern house with several layers of later work led the Mexican design team to reflect on what pre-existence means. The neighbourhood, the last phase of a late nineteenth century urban expansion, is known for its urban quality and its regionalist, French-style and modern houses.

The house’s original structure with its mezzanine had survived, but a 1990s renovation had turned it into a version of a suburban postmodern home. The team set out to recover the atmosphere of the local modern house through terrazzo, coloured cement tiles, glass blocks and steel windows, while leaving traces of the other interventions.

To make the most of the budget, no structural elements were demolished. Coloured plaster and new floors changed the mood, and custom furniture reshaped the kitchen and mezzanine. The kitchen returns to open shelving where its contents can be seen, against the contemporary habit of hiding everything.