Huaxi City Center in China
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I believe that most people would prefer to live in a house over an apartment or condo. Houses provide lots of space, a back yard, and ample parking! What if an apartment could provide those same elements? That is what the Rojkind firm will create in High Park, Monterrey!
The Rojkind Architects said "people enjoy the convenience of a house for its connection to a garden, or exterior spaces, which normally apartments lack. By having a project which integrates, not only terraces but real gardens even at the upper levels, we have achieved an experience unique to Monterrey."
The idea surrounding this innovative creation is that luxury, city living, and nature can all exist harmoniously. With all big cities, there is pressure to use every square inch of land and cram people into apartments like sardines in a can. The Rojkind architects chose quality over quantity when designing this building. They tailored this plan for people that can afford to pay a little bit more for their unique design. This building is ten stories above ground and three stories below ground. The below ground stories serve as a parking garage for the building. The first two ground floors are for mixed retail use and the top eight floors are strictly residential- including a spa and gym for residents. Each apartment has access to a small garden and lots of windows that unite the inhabitants with nature. This property is an oasis that stands out amongst the other housing complexes in Monterrey that chose quantity of inhabitants over quality of design.
Rojkind also considered the natural environment of Monterrey when designing this building. They noted on their website "to counterbalance the strong sun, the floor plates shift in relation to one another creating a play of light and shadow, and the use of local stone, done by local craftsmen on the facade allows the building to stay cooler and makes its appearance change as the sun moves across the horizon."
The architects plan on using natural stone for the masonery to help retain heat during cold months and retain cold during hot months. This will provide better climate control for the residents living in such an extreme environment. Monterrey is one of Mexico's most developed cities. During the summer, Monterrey can reach temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for over three months. With local stones, the building can retain cool winter temperatures and then release the coolness during the hot summer days. The rocks will then cool off over night and start the process all over again. This building will still need air-conditioning but their electricity bill will be less expensive than comparable buildings without the use of natural stones.
This project will break grounds this summer. Stay tuned for more updates!
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