Juan de la Barrera 5, a building with a 50 years history prepared for the future. Just a few steps from the greenery of Parque España this 8 stories building is located. Designed by Serrano, Serrano and Nava in 1967 with an avantgarde approach for the traditional Condesa area that was starting its vertical development. The project was finished in 1968 and received the Glass & Aluminum Innovation Award.


After 2017 earthquake the building suffered multiple damage, not fatal, reason why Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos takes advantage of the opportunity to renovate this Condesa jewel and among the structural improvements, made an important investment in installations and services to ensure the lifespan of the building for many years more.

27 new piles, columns and beams were done, concrete walls were also incorporated in order to transform the building in one of the safest in the area nowadays. The original programme was maintained formed by 15 apartments of 70, 80 and 120 sq m in which the interior distribution was done around a wood box that separates the services from the living areas, and also creating a new finishes system.


The floors were covered with Austrian wooden staves —on top of acoustic isolation between the apartments to guarantee comfort for all the residents— combined with flamed granite in some areas, as well as large format porcelain tiles and krion for the kitchen and bathrooms. For the woodwork cero-print laminates were used and the lighting was done with LEDs controlled by the voice.

Another important and significant change is the incorporation of a series of systems and materials to have clean energy going from photocells, filters for the rain water collector to make it drinkable, electric systems for heating water and induction stoves which are the most sustainable. It also has noise isolation on the slabs, hermetic double glass and thermoformed 12.7 mm glass bubbles that also contribute to maintaining the interior temperature.


The building is prepared to be an icon in the life changes that have been happening in many cities around the world. Small apartments for people who want to live in the “15 minutes city” enjoying services such as car sharing, skates and electric bicycles, storage for receiving all size packages, concierge and electronic door panels controlled from the distance.

Global design shows us that sustainability in architecture is also find in the renovation of buildings that with reasonable investment may be prepared to satisfy all the contemporary life needs and its future changes. Juan de la Barrera 5, half a century of history with new goals to fulfill.





  • Architect: Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos

Posted by Juan Pablo Serrano

Serrano+ celebrates 30 years of developing architectural spaces in which Quality is achieved by the proper use of materials and light as a creative element. Space is their raw material and with the support of multidisciplinary groups architect Juan Pablo Serrano Orozco, director of the firm, backed by a great team of associates and collaborators, demonstrate capacity and performance in all fields of architecture in Mexico and abroad. Juan Pablo Serrano began his studies in architecture and urbanism at the Universidad Iberoamericana in 1987, with exchanges at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California at Los Angeles. He received an Honorable Mention from the Universidad Iberoamericana in 1991. Fourth generation of architects in his family. Professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana from 1993 to date and Academician of the National Academy of Architecture. The structure and professionalism that Serrano+ has today has been enriched by the collaboration in partnership with important national and international firms and architects; they have been invited to competitions in Mexico and other parts of the world and actively participate in the formation and dissemination of architectural work. Architecture is their means to collaborate in the development of a better urban context, since they are sure that the correct design of spaces is the way to have better cities. Their expertise has been strengthened by the constant search for the perfect combination of form and structure. For Serrano+, citizens are the backbone of cities and the buildings, in which they spend their day to day, are the elements that help them contribute with spaces designed to improve their quality of life. They have had the opportunity to design, direct and execute residential projects, restaurants, hotels, corporate, airports, industrial warehouses, cultural centers and housing developments. The sensitivity that the Serrano+ team imprints on their projects is the decantation of everything they learn every day. Light, materials and technology combine in a perfect balance to create the space that lives around the inhabitant. Awareness of ecological balance and nature has been present in their projects since their inception and they consider that sustainability is the only way to make architecture. They are members of the Green Building Council Mexico chapter, to strengthen their contribution to the architectural landscape with the design of buildings that have a high energy performance. With their work they have participated in different exhibitions in important countries such as: Mexico, the United States, France, Singapore, Italy, Argentina, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, China, Australia, Greece and Spain, as well as in interviews and in various national and international publications. His projects have received a large number of distinctions and recognitions both in Mexico and abroad. Today they are laying the foundations for the next 30 years.

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