Mauricio Ceballos x Architects matched the luxury of Kering in the design of their offices located in Mexico City, Mexico.

Kering is owners of luxury essential brands such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, among others; decided to build their offices in Mexico under the concept of simple, comfortable, and sustainable offices. Situated in Polanco, northeast of Mexico City, the building is located at less than 500 meters of 3 high end malls: Carso mall, Antara mall and the Palacio de los Palacios; 3 blocks away from Masaryk Avenue, a fashion street where you can find boutiques as Gucci, Tiffany, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, etc.

The offices are located on level 8 and 9, the floors have opened views to all of Polanco and Bosque de Chapultepec area. The spaces were carefully designed to reflect the level of quality and commitment of the Kering brands.

For the design concept, bringing together the Mexican essence with the modernity and style of the client was the grounding point. The challenge was bringing the ancestral to the contemporary cosmopolitan present that vibrates in Latin America and in haut couture. The immovable, timeless brutalism, sometimes imposing and sometimes familiar, brings us closer to the original culture that resonates strongly under the asphalt of Mexico City.

The main access is through level 9, a central helical stair connects the two floors, creating a sculptural iconic point inside the project. Clean volumes in glass, wood details and specific touches of Mexican furniture, give the personality to the space.

High standards for maximum comfort were included as well as criteria required for LEED certification. Treating the project acoustically was a fundamental part of improving the quality of comfort for its users. The success in the acoustic design of the building’s spaces is based on the choice of suitable materials for each space, defined by the shape and its volume. The acoustic treatments were defined according to the activities of each space, such as the conference rooms, the rooms where the staff could take their calls, the office area, etc.

One of the great challenges of the project was adapting the spaces for the functionality of the office during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which strategies such as improving the natural ventilation of the spaces as well as the use of filters on the air conditioning system, were carried out. In the same way, workspaces were carefully designed to respect the healthy distance measures, as well as the correct flow of circulation, special materials that allow visibility were selected.

Design: Mauricio Ceballos x Architects

Photography: Diego Padilla Magallanes

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