ARCO (cc) by WORC is a contemporary cultural space against a historic tapestry

The San Miguel Chapultepec neighbourhood in Mexico City is as artsy as it is residential, inhabited by an eclectic mix of people and architecture exuding stories and character. The locality has preserved constructions of the early 20th century, including neocolonial and art deco houses and a significant fraction of its original layout continues to be intact. In this traditional neighbourhood of an architectural potpourri—from French-inspired mansions to chic art galleries—an old house dating back to the 1930s undergoes a stylistic revival helmed by Mexico-based architecture practice WORC Studio. The space now morphs to harbour ARCO (cc), a cultural company where art, design and architecture come together to create a collaborative milieu that functions as a workspace.

Across the neighbourhood, the architecture speaks of time and its passing—a harmonious coexistence of the past and the present defining its spirit. The residential design was no different; its threshold with cedar woodwork stands witness to decades of memories. Adjacent to the house, Circuito Interior, which was a majestic avenue in the past, is shaded by enormous trees alluding to the unique greenery that persists in the place and its memory. The Mexican architects’ vision to transform the building into a multicultural space sprouted from an encounter between friends and family. The environments the space offered were optimal for the production and demonstration of visual arts, design, architecture and entertainment. "The restoration of this architectural gem involved the sensitivity to appreciate and consolidate the details that gave character to the residence. Signs of wear and tear from the past were reflected in ceramic floors and paint that had lost their luster,” reads the project’s official release.

WORC Studio’s renovation proposal revolved around carefully restoring the building’s authenticity through its original elements. The team’s interventions aim to weave a tapestry with architectural history, green spaces, fine materials and a contemporary approach, buttressing each other. "A general criterion was established, where each stroke, each arch and window, becomes part of a visual narrative that traverses the house with an elegant horizontal line," the architects expand on the tenets of their concept in the official release. “Where arches did not exist, the walls told their own story, forming a clear language between memory and the present,” they add.

Ushered through an arched entrance, an experience of spatial enlargement encompasses the visitors as they enter the living space. Conceived as a ‘livable showroom’, the area showcases the collaborative work of WORC Studio and furniture studio VETA. With the living room at the heart, the ground floor expands into a dining room, bedroom and a serene patio with a fountain. The kitchen becomes a place where services are displayed in harmony with the ancient aesthetic of the residential architecture. The lighting design is integrated into the original mouldings, while the walls reveal traces of time attesting to the building’s life.

The first floor accommodates the offices and workspaces populated with VETA’s furniture designs and WORC Studio’s creative semantics. Further up, the second floor transforms into the backdrop for meetings; the adjunct terrace serves as a multifunctional space and an inviting green corner to unwind.

The restoration of the façade design is executed with equal attention and sensitivity. Furthermore, the colour palette the building is donned in strikes the eye while melding with the urban environment. Completing the facade, the doors and windows underwent similar meticulous restoration work, emerging as one of the protagonists of the project. Furthermore, the blacksmith shops, carefully cleaned and restored, regain their original appeal.

The renovation project, originally pursuing the purpose of turning a residence into a habitable space, evolved into something more diverse as it progressed, almost as if taking on a life of its own. Bespoke furniture collides with sensitive architecture restoration to preserve stories, both old and new. “The final result is composed of continuity and authenticity. Every corner is a tribute to history,” the architects say in an official statement.