CYTA Building is located in the heart of Hipódromo Condesa, one of Mexico City’s most vibrant and shifting neighborhoods. The buildings’ design solution insistently looks for a careful integration with the natural and urban environment The façade is composed of balconies and terraces with plants–in pots that are integrated to the structure, and Irving wrought-iron screen, and sober framings. The façade coexists with its surroundings and the trees that face the street. The vegetation of the city intertwines with that sprouting from the building creating a harmonious experience with the outside, both for the user and the building. One of the neighboring buildings was classified as a heritage site; this led us to shape our volume to achieve a striking gesture of integration.
© Benjamín Pliego
Considering that the side face will never be obstructed, we saw the opportunity to integrate our frontal and side façade with the neighboring one in the upper levels, interweaving them as if it was a seam. The building and apartments are designed to provide an intimate haven within CYTA amidst all that dynamism and energy. The building has 25 units, all of which receive natural light and ventilation. Most of them are comprised of one story that includes balconies and there are some distributed in two stories. The units on the ground level have small patios. At the top of CYTA, there is a common roof garden that has amazing views of the neighborhood and the city. Vertical circulations are concentrated in the core of the building. We took advantage of this space to bathe the halls and common areas with light and ventilation and we carefully designed a steel stairway formed from continuous frames and circular elements that fade in color as they rise, getting clearer as they meet the light that comes through the upper dome.
© Rafael Gamo
In this way, the color gradient gives its own personality to every level of the building. The finishes and building materials are basic, pure, honest, and, in good measure, local; seeking to give the project an everlasting aspect that withstands the test of time and that it identifies with its setting. CYTA embeds itself into the city offering an urban lifestyle and a coherent design environment–from the small details to the building’s total design concept, resulting in a project with added value for its users and the city.
© Rafael Gamo
© Rafael Gamo
Project Info :
Architects: ARCHETONIC, ATIKO Arquitectos
Area: 3959 m²
Year: 2020
Country: Mexico City, Mexico
Photographs: Rafael Gamo, Benjamín Pliego
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Comex, Global Woods, Gravita, Irving, Joben, Kone, McNeel, Mform-Madera, Neoconcepto, Pisos Flotados Olimpo, Pur Natur, Tecnovidrio, Urbanstone
Lead Architects: Jaime Micha Balas, Jacobo Micha Mizrahi, ATIKO Arquitectos
Design Team: Elihú Vázquez Tinajero, Ernesto Rossell Zanotelli, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Díaz.
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.