Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

A Mexico City Apartment Building Offers Lush Terraces Clad in Concrete and Steel

A Mexico City Apartment Building Offers Lush Terraces Clad in Concrete and Steel

Local architecture firm Vertebral designs four greenery-lined apartments next to an ancient jacaranda tree in Mexico City’s Roma district.

Each of the four units in Chiapas 168-a Mexico City apartment building by award-winning practice Vertebral-are clad in low-maintenance materials including pine wood, concrete, and rusted steel. Located in the Roma Norte neighborhood, the building also includes a verdant rooftop garden and private, planted terraces for the residents.



The architects left much of the concrete exposed within the apartments. "We like that the materials will change and gain a patina that is only possible through their exposure to time and the elements," says architect Elias Kalach.



Each apartment includes three equally sized bedrooms that can be subdivided to cater to different living arrangements. Wooden floor-to-ceiling shelving and paneled walls create privacy while maintaining an open-plan layout in the kitchen, dining area, and living room.



Bringing residents closer to nature was key for the architects: "When we design our projects, we tend to imagine the precise moment when it’s time to open the window to let in some fresh morning breeze," says architect Teddy Nanes. Each apartment features its own terrace with greenery-filled, steel planters that run the length of the building. Floor-to-ceiling glazing brings natural light into the living spaces.



To the rear of the structure, a wall of bamboo sweeps across the width of the open-air garden. The roof gardens, which are now buzzing hubs of biodiversity, were a fundamental part of the building’s design as well. "We consider the habitat of other creatures as inherent and fundamental in our dense and complex cities," Nanes explains.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×