Moradores
MORADORES describes itself as a “public house” composed of a restaurant, art exhibition, and a meeting point for the community, within a nearly 100-year- old house that is one of the few survivors of the evolution of a representative neighborhood in downtown Toluca. This architecture demanded to be rescued from oblivion, bringing light and life back to what was once a family home, and transforming it into a space for the community.
It is located in the 5 de Mayo neighborhood, just a few meters from Zaragoza Garden and the old Toluca beer factory, an area that was characterized by its high influence of French architecture. The urban configuration is composed of narrow and elongated lots that limit the side facades and eliminate the central courtyard, which was replaced in its time by the Parisian central corridor. Unfortunately, it is no longer common to see these houses from that era because in the 1970s, the government decided to demolish the majority of them in an attempt to modernize the city, as they believed that the houses did not meet the best living conditions.
The project takes advantage of the potential of conserving the existing heritage, adapting it to current needs and integrating contemporary elements to restore the house to its former splendor.
Another intention was to create a space of interest and recreation in the center of Toluca since such spaces are currently located on the outskirts of the city. This aims to bring the community back to this area. For the local residents it has become a landmark, as it is one of the first cases where existing architecture was reinterpreted and given a new use.
