To build with intention is to walk the line between the land and the future, memory and momentum, belonging and becoming. Architecture that dwells and resonates is seldom detached from its place—it belongs to the land as much as it does to the present. To inhabit one’s space poetically is to root oneself in place while opening to possibility, as French philosopher Gaston Bachelard considers in The Poetics of Space (1957).

Few global practices embody this sentiment quite like Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos. “LAND, THE LOCAL // For us, architecture is rooted in the land—its contours, ecology, history and culture. Each project reflects a deep connection to its surroundings, using local materials to create forms that are contemporary yet grounded. We seek to evoke life and connection through subtle gestures and essential materials, establishing a lasting dialogue with the place,” the firm shares.

Now led by Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro, partner, alongside his father (Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas, principal) and brother (Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro, partner), Sordo Madaleno is a Mexico City-based architecture and urban design studio with an 88-year legacy spanning three generations. The family-led practice has shaped, and has been shaped by, the evolving cultural, economic and ecological narrative of Mexico—a relationship that has been mutually transforming over decades. Speaking with STIR at their new London outpost, Fernando reflects on the practice’s multigenerational identity, its deeply personal creative ethos and how its architecture serves as both a vessel for memory and a catalyst for change—"where architecture," as the studio asserts, “is constantly questioned, reshaped and refined.”

“We’re not a big corporate practice,” Fernando explains. “It’s a family studio, and that’s a big part of what defines us. We don’t see architecture as just a service or profession—it’s our trade, our passion. It’s what we do.” Founded in 1937 by his grandfather, Juan Sordo Madaleno, the practice began with a single real estate project, which he designed himself. Architecture for him, even then, was a form of vocation—an identity which Juan passed down like a sacred craft. “He always said, you have to go out and look for work—it won’t come knocking at your door,” Fernando recalls.

This ethos has remained central to Sordo Madaleno’s approach, as the architect recounts multiple times during the interview. Rather than chasing stylistic signatures, the interdisciplinary firm is guided by a philosophy of strict research coupled with a rich responsiveness and embeddedness to the site, reflected in its more than 8.5 million sq m of built work across more than 15 countries.

Architecture is a reflection of the aspirations of our society. – Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro, partner, Sordo Madaleno

“For us, we don’t have a style. Our style is our process,” Fernando affirms with pride. “Every project starts with understanding the context—what materials are available, what the social dynamics are, what the landscape offers. When [we] think about a new project, [it’s not just] about its form. I’m thinking about the dynamics, the local craftsmanship, the way a space can feel when you’re in it.”

Of People, Place and Purpose

This grounding in place is not simply nostalgic. It is gratifying and strategic. “We’re learning from sustainable materials, from vernacular architecture, from our roots—but it’s not about looking solely to the past. It’s about applying that knowledge to the future. That’s what defines innovation,” relays the Mexican architect. In Mexico, this sensitivity to tradition and transition is especially vital to crafting contextual architecture. “Our identity isn’t singular. It’s layered—pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial. What does it even mean to say ‘Mexican architecture’? For me, it’s not about colour or tropes or [Luis] Barragán. It’s [more] about using resources intelligently, creating spaces that bring people together.”

The projects Sordo Madaleno undertakes vary widely in scale and typology, but one thing unites them: “The human scale,” as Fernando tells STIR. From urban masterplans to residential sanctuaries, hospitality hubs to cultural architecture, the office resists the impulse toward landmarks or icon-making. Instead, their architecture seeks resonance and balance. “There’s a responsibility to challenge different typologies, to do work that creates something better for society,” says Fernando, who now works primarily out of the firm’s London studio.

That sense of duty is intrinsic to how Sordo Madaleno perceives its role in Mexico and beyond. As cities become increasingly globalised, architecture can either homogenise or localise. “Architecture is a reflection of society’s aspirations,” Fernando says. And the new generation, himself included, must understand those aspirations in new ways. According to him, they need to bring in fresher ideas and diverse perspectives with humility. “Because when you’re working in a place, the knowledge isn’t just yours. It belongs to the community. Architecture becomes powerful when it includes that,” he says.

That’s my biggest hope, that our projects talk about where they are.

This also informs the firm’s growing international outlook. Fernando believes that they are in a very strategic position—between Mexico and Asia, for instance. They can learn so much from other cultures and bring that back into their design process. For him, becoming global isn’t about tirelessly exporting or expressing a singular, titular style—it’s about importing understanding—as he elaborates on their recent expansion to London in the UK. “We’ve seen how great firms learn from the places they work in and create something quite special. That’s my biggest hope, that our projects talk about where they are.”

The studio’s continuity across three generations has become its quiet advantage, with the architect calling it their ‘secret weapon’. There’s a lot of knowledge that accumulates in a family practice, Fernando reflects. “You inherit the successes, the failures, the mindset. It’s not static.” This continuity also provides stability amid an industry that is often driven by shifting values. In contrast, Sordo Madaleno’s work adapts and unfolds with a sense of long-term stewardship: of the land, of culture and community.

Herein, the interview also progresses into how the Mexican firm has been able to balance between the commercial aspect of architecture and its individual expression. It also briefly touches upon Shaping Transformation. Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos (2023), the firm’s monograph, which is richly augmented by recently discovered archival materials.

Yet for all its history and forward-looking approach, Sordo Madaleno is far from rooted in its legacy, as Fernando attests; again, a balancing act with learnings and growth as constants. Its portfolio in recent years has pushed into more experimental, ecological and socially-driven terrain as well. Whether through hybrid public-commercial programs, porous green infrastructures or an embrace of vernacular forms through contemporary architecture, Sordo Madaleno’s works seek to shape new futures while referencing or respecting established narratives. “For me, architecture is about looking to the past and understanding tradition, but applying it with today’s technology. That’s the balancing act.”

And balance, perhaps more than any other value, is what seems to truly anchor the firm’s work and ethos. Between tradition and innovation. Between personal identity and collective needs. Between local grounding and global exposure. “If you understand the power of architecture”, Fernando says, “you can create something beneficial—no matter the project’s size. That’s the beauty of it.”

Ultimately, it’s this sense of belonging—of being consistently attuned to both people and place—that continues to buttress Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos’ creative purpose. “Our projects should feel like they belong,” says Fernando. Not just aesthetically, but culturally, socially and emotionally. That’s when architecture truly matters, he maintains.

Tap on the cover video to watch the full conversation with architect Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro.