juan pablo ochoa + ruben padilla restore 1970s family house in guadalajara, mexico

inside the americana neighborhood of guadalajara, mexico, a 1970s family dwelling witnesses a discrete transformation by architects juan pablo ochoa and ruben padilla. the restoration project focuses on one level of a residential complex that includes eight equal houses within a closed street. originally intended for a middle-class family, the apartment includes two bedrooms, a living area, kitchen, bathroom, utility room, patio and a laundry area. 

garden area – the house is part of a residential complex within the americana neighborhood of mexico
all images © ana lorena mendez

throughout the restoration, juan pablo ochoa and ruben padilla have respected the existing architectural language by preserving and reusing original materials and plastic. for example, significant parts of the pulp floor tiles have been re-integrated with the same format but different patterns and colors. on the other hand, part of the steel work has been salvaged — making it the basis for modulating additional steel elements. regarding the carpentry, interior doors have been restored and relocated while remaining woodwork (bathroom furniture, closets and kitchen) has been designed and built for the new spaces by using plastic and colors evocative of the seventies.

patio: the restoration preserves the original architecture language that dates back to the 1970s

the room adjacent to the exterior has been removed to increase the area of the main space — which now includes the study, living and dining areas. the bedroom opens to the interior patio with a wide window frame while the bathroom is set in the former kitchen zone — releasing a space that now acts as a corridor for better flow of space, light and wind. the service room has turned into the kitchen which now connects directly to the garden, patio and laundry area for optimal daily use.

dining room – showing doors and windows painted and reworked

main living spaces include living, dining and study areas

studio room 

bathroom – pulp tiles have been reused with modified patterns and colors

bedroom – colors that were popular during the 1970s are integrated within the restored setting

the service room has become the kitchen and connects directly to the garden, patio and laundry area

renovated façade 

former kitchen area

isometric view 

project info:
 

restoration and furniture design: ruben padilla cortes & juan pablo ochoa

realization: juan pablo ochoa

construction area: 120 sq.m.

location: guadalajara, mexico

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom