Mexico City, Mexico
In the Colonia Roma area of Mexico City, Santiago Morales Broc and Cristian Aguilar Gutiérrez from BRAG Arquitectos with Kees Van Rooij / KVR Arquitectura de Paisaje, PIÙ design, and sackbé have created BAJÍO 307: a self-sustainable housing complex that includes the latest in sustainable technologies such as rain catchment system, specially designed green walls, and energy-optimizing lighting system.
BAJÍO 307 is a residential complex with 82 apartments on a property that merges different lots.
For its extensive commitment to sustainable green design throughout, BAJÍO 307 has recently been awarded a Green Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The main challenge of the design was the presence of an early-20th-century house classified by the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) for its artistic value.
The building was restored and now houses access and common areas: lobby, cafeteria, gym, business center, roof garden, etc.
During restoration, drywall divisions and plaster covering were removed, while wooden windows and blacksmith railings were restored.
Removed panels revealed a traditional Catalan vaulted ceiling.
A corridor connects the house, two volumes of apartments, and recreational areas such as patios, the pool area, and gardens.
Vertical circulation connects to the semi-basement parking level.
In the central courtyard, floors were preserved, and a reflecting water basin was added with a green wall and artwork.
On the ground floor, a studio workshop for artists was established.
The apartments are distributed among seven levels and those on the ground and top floor have double height.
The architects wanted to generate a green footprint in the middle of the urbanized downtown area; for this reason, there are green areas on the ground floor, rooftops, and 9,200 m2 of green walls.
60% of the property was allocated to free areas, even though the regulator level is just 20%.
Resistant plant species were selected that adapt to sun and shade conditions of the complex and that consume little water.
Green walls were designed to strategically generate natural lighting and ventilation inside apartments.
65,000 plants incorporated annually generate oxygen for 2,400 people and filter 125,350 kg of CO2, among other benefits to the environment.
All existing trees were respected and 50 new specimens were added.
For the maintenance of vegetation, a rain catchment system (104,000 liters) was implemented with filtration and programmed irrigation, supervised by a biologist.
Water-saving furniture was used throughout the complex.
Regarding energy, LED lighting was implemented and the towers are oriented east-west direction, which allows for the greatest solar capture without increased heat absorption inside.
The Lutron system, programmed to respond to sunrise and sunset, leads to a significant reduction in power consumption.
Every year, parameters are evaluated to optimize automation.
Such technologies make the complex self-sustainable and reduce the pressure exerted on water and energy usage.
BAJÍO 307 represents a new way of building in Mexico City—the possibility of improving the environment and city, generously integrating green spaces and pieces of history.
Among the dense urbanization, it generates a landmark of heritage and greenery, a lung for the city.
Project: BAJÍO 307
Architects: BRAG Arquitectos
Lead Architects: Santiago Morales Broc and Cristian Aguilar Gutiérrez
Design Team: Hugo Sánchez, Alejandro Rodríguez, and Nayeli Ramos
Landscape Architects: Kees Van Rooij / KVR Arquitectura de Paisaje
Interior Architects: PIÙ design
Restoration Architects: Sackbé SA de CV
Developer: GDC Desarrollos
