Mar Mediterráneo 34 by Inca Hernández: Residential Adaptive Reuse in Mexico City

Tacuba, located in the northwest quadrant of Mexico City, exemplifies the city’s layered history. Known for its historical significance and architectural richness, Tacuba has weathered political, social, and urban transformations that have shaped its identity. Within this context, the MM34 | Mar Mediterráneo 34 project emerges as an architectural intervention that respects and reinterprets the past.

Mar Mediterráneo 34 Technical Information

• Architects^1-4: Inca Hernández
• Location: Tacuba, Mexico City, Mexico
• Gross Area: 620 m² | 6,674 Sq. Ft.
• Completion Year: 2022
• Photographs: © João Morgado, © Nicolas Million

The goal of the intervention is to generate a legacy that encourages the transformation of Tacuba to enhance and rescue its heritage value, by taking advantage of spaces in a sustainable way to give life to the magical neighborhood.

– Inca Hernández Architects

Mar Mediterráneo 34 Photographs

Design Intent and Spatial Organization

Constructed in 1910 during the Porfiriato era, the original building was designed in an eclectic French style that reflected the aspirations of a city at the height of its prosperity. Over a century, the property experienced periods of neglect and decline, mirroring the broader urban changes in Tacuba. The recent intervention by architect Inca Hernández offers a new perspective on the building’s potential, exploring the interplay between heritage conservation and contemporary urban living.

The project is rooted in the principle of architectural continuity, where the past and the present converge in a coherent spatial narrative. Inca Hernández approached the design with the intent to restore the house’s historical identity while simultaneously introducing a new architectural layer that addresses the demands of modern living.

Originally composed of two volumes, a main façade and a secondary volume facing an interior courtyard, the building was in a state of advanced deterioration. The second volume was almost entirely in ruins, posing a significant challenge to the intervention. The design strategy focused on preserving the historical elements of the main volume and reconstructing the ruined portion to accommodate seven flexible residential units.

Spatially, the project unfolds across three levels. These levels house a variety of living spaces, including lofts, studios, family apartments, and a penthouse. The arrangement fosters a sense of adaptability, responding to diverse modes of urban dwelling. The connection between the two volumes is carefully orchestrated through a central courtyard that becomes the project’s focal point, mediating light and shadow in a deliberate architectural gesture.

Material Strategy and Restoration Techniques

Materiality plays a critical role in the project’s dialogue between past and present. The meticulous restoration of historical elements, such as the carved quarry balconies, iron railings, large windows, and glass roof tiles, marks the intervention. These features, crafted during the Porfiriato era, are preserved and reintroduced as integral components of the project’s identity.

A carefully selected palette of contemporary materials complements these restored elements. A volcanic stone baseboard encircles the ground floor, acting as a unifying element that anchors the new construction and pays homage to Mexico’s rich geological heritage. In the central patio, a new volume is raised to frame the sky, reinterpreting the original portals as a sequence of openings that blur the boundary between interior and exterior.

The craftsmanship evident throughout the project underscores the importance of material authenticity. Collaborations with artisans and specialists enabled the recovery of artisanal details that might otherwise have been lost. This sensitivity to materiality elevates the project beyond mere renovation, positioning it as an architectural response that honors the memory embedded in the site.

Mar Mediterráneo 34 Experiential Dimensions

MM34 | Mar Mediterráneo 34 situates within a broader sustainability and urban regeneration discourse. The decision to rehabilitate rather than demolish speaks to a commitment to preserving the urban fabric and reducing the ecological impact associated with new construction. By reintegrating abandoned spaces into the urban fabric, the project contributes to the re-densification of Tacuba, offering an alternative to urban sprawl.

Experientially, the project cultivates an atmosphere of introspection and calm. The interplay of light and shadow within the courtyard, the filtered views through restored ironwork, and the tactility of the volcanic stone evoke a contemplative quality. These elements ground the architecture in a sense of place, reinforcing the project’s role as a mediator between past and present.

Mar Mediterráneo 34 Plans

Mar Mediterráneo 34 Image Gallery

About Inca Hernández

Inca Hernández’s architecture weaves together heritage, material authenticity, and sustainability. His work continually revives historic structures, most notably Porfirian-era villas such as Mar Mediterráneo 34, through a sensitive restoration of original artisanal elements alongside precise contemporary insertions. Raised in an environmentally conscious family, Hernández embeds ecological responsibility and cultural continuity into every project, using local materials and regeneration strategies to reinhabit spaces without expanding the urban footprint.

Credits and Additional Notes

1. Interior Design: Ana Ximena García, Inca Hernández, Raíz Mx, Adrián González (Mercado de Chacharitas)
2. Structural Engineer: Javier Soria
3. Collaborators: Gabriela Llovera Arciniegas, Luis Enrique Vargas
4. Development: Top Project Multiplex / Efraín Hernández