Designed by MARCA Architecture in Mexico City’s Roma Norte neighbourhood, Zacatecas 4 is a seven-storey mixed-use residential building. The most striking feature of the project, which has three commercial units on the ground floor and 12 apartments on its upper floors, is the 40-metre-deep foundation system supporting the 21-metre-high building.

Mexico City’s urban fabric, developed on a former lake bed, makes ground conditions an important engineering issue in the design of new buildings.

“We are in Mexico City’s lake zone, and we had to reach firm ground, which was 40 metres down.”

The soil study for Zacatecas 4 established that firm ground could only be reached at a depth of 40 metres. The building was constructed on a foundation system extending to this depth.

Led by Guillermo Suárez Almazán, MARCA Architecture developed a building that brought together compact apartments, commercial functions and communal areas above this technical infrastructure.

On the façade of Zacatecas 4, exposed concrete (concreto aparente) forms a grid system of prismatic surfaces that meet at different angles. Concrete elements repeated across the floors separate the balconies while providing shading and visual privacy. The depths created by the angled panels produce different shadows on the façade as daylight changes.

Large glazed openings, recessed surfaces and planting on the balconies connect the apartments with the outdoors. The three commercial units on the ground floor connect the building to the street, while access to the apartments takes place through a separate entrance.

“We are very drawn to the way light enters, to materiality, to a strong, well-defined volume drawn with simple lines. When someone walks into a space, I want them to feel peace.” — Guillermo Suárez Almazán

Circulation between floors takes place via exposed concrete stairs and corridors that open to the outdoors. These open spaces allow natural light and air to pass through.

The functional use of limited space in the apartments, natural light and city views were among the main design priorities. Exposed concrete, glass, engineered wood flooring and steel details were used in the interiors.

Zacatecas 4 has a shared roof garden on its uppermost level. The terrace contains seating and dining areas, planting, a fire pit and a canopy supported by a metal structure. It provides residents with a shared outdoor space within the dense urban fabric of Roma Norte. The towers of the neighbouring church and the Mexico City skyline are visible from the terrace.