esrawe studio refurbishes 1950s warehouse into its own spacious atelier in mexico city

mexican architect and designer hector esrawe, founded esrawe studio in 2003, and since then the company has grown and moved multiple times. it finally settled in an old warehouse, in the roma norte neighborhood in mexico city, unique in its typology and uncommon for the area. the spacious atelier allows the studio for further expansion, but in the meantime, it offers areas for experimental projects and displaying concepts in process. 

all images © genevieve lutkin

esrawe studio established its new workspace in may 2019, inside an old dancehall built around the 1950s. roma, its vibrant neighborhood, boasts plenty of galleries and charming cafes, restaurants and plazas. esrawe renovated the 600-square-meter property, stripping the space from excess material and exposing the beautiful wood structure that was hiding underneath the clutter. the character of the wood structure defines the expression of the studio. 

the open area consists of tables placed in a transversal position, where the different teams are integrated. the existing metal elements of the ceiling were restored and painted a pale color, and skylights were added to bring in natural light. concrete beams were built to restructure the ceiling and a natural cement finish was applied to the floor. the honest industrial aesthetic proved to be ideal for a creative atmosphere. 

the space is covered on both sides with cork boards in order to display different projects in progress. in the furniture design area, walls are covered with racks that hold experimental solutions and tests of different materials, like samples of stones, metal and wood as well as tools, prototypes and molds. this allows the studio to build an archive of their past projects, processes, mockups and in the end, the memory and knowledge built along the years. 

in the new space, architects, industrial, interior and graphic designers, renderists, engineers and administrators can interact and learn from each other. the space was built to create, to promote lectures, projections and conferences, and encourages collaboration, multidiscipline and cross-pollination. the studio comprises an upper area, which consists of a terrace, a kitchen and a communal dining area, as well as a space for model making, filled up with material samples, mockups, full-size models, 3d printer and a laser cut machine.

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project info:

creative direction: héctor esrawe 

architectural concept: esrawe studio 

architecture, interior design, and furnishing: esrawe studio 

location: mexico city 

total surface area: 565 m2 

year of completion: 2019 

external advisors structure: grupo bvg 

lighting: lua luz en arquitectura 

landscaping: arturo flores 

photography: genevieve lutkin

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: cristina gomez | designboom