Area: 300 m2

Camelia was a project for the remodelling of a house in San Angel, located in the southern part of Mexico City. The existing house had three levels and no parking space. The space distribution was governed by load-bearing walls, which limited the entry of natural light and created a sense of confinement. For the remodelling project, it was proposed to rethink the vertical and horizontal circulations as exchanging elements in order to create an illusion of continuous movement within the house. In this way, each space was given greater openness and increased natural light. The façade was left intact to respect the original architectural style, and only a basement for parking was added. Inside, a vertical perforation was made through the three levels of the house to accommodate a staircase. This perforation reorganized the distribution of space around it, allowing more natural light to enter. The staircase was conceived as a sculptural element added to the existing structure to emphasize the contrast between the previous elements and the new intervention. A detached black metal staircase was installed, contrasting with the white walls and creating the illusion of floating. On the back of the staircase, a reflective sheet was added, doubling the space and giving the staircase a sense of lightness and movement. The same concept of contrast was applied to the patio, where the original elements of the construction were left exposed in juxtaposition with modern black elements.