San Angelo
About the project
San Angelo
A retail center in Montes de Amé, Mérida, Yucatán (2013), with Jorge Bolio Arquitectura as co-architects. Its L-shaped scheme ends in a cube joined to the plaza by a bridge and lit up at night, and the exposed steel structure of the façades allows modules to be joined horizontally or vertically.
The project arose as a solution to a commercial need on a newly opened avenue in the north of the city of Mérida, Yucatán.
As one of the first buildings on that avenue, the plaza was designed with a sober, timeless character, not bound to any style, responding to its chronological and urban context. All of this was done so that it would feel contemporary with the future neighboring buildings.
The project is laid out in an “L” shape, terminated by a cube that connects to the plaza through a bridge; at night, through its lighting, the cube becomes a visual focal point and an icon of the plaza.
The façades were formally resolved with an exposed metal structure intended to create rhythm. The structure also gives the project versatility, since it allows modules to be joined horizontally and/or vertically, as required.
Project facts
| Type | Retail center |
|---|---|
| Location | Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico |
| District | Montes de Amé |
| Year | 2013 |
| Built area | 3,155 m² |
| Status | Built |
| Arkham's scope | Architecture |
| Co-authors and collaborators | Jorge Bolio Arquitectura (co-architects) |
| Photography | Leo Espinosa |
The challenge
Creating a flexible, recognizable retail center able to adapt to different types and sizes of shops, while keeping a contemporary, timeless image that could stay current as the area grew.
The design decision
Using a steel structural grid as the ordering system of the plaza, making it possible to modulate the shops while building a unified architectural image; the complex is crowned by a raised, transparent volume that works as a visual icon.
Materials
Materiality
Dark steel, glass, light and dark surfaces with a neutral finish, glass railings and restrained landscaping.
Material concept
A restrained, modular architecture that works as a backdrop for the retail brands, favoring durability, flexibility and a contemporary image.
Distinctive element
The raised cubic volume, whose transparency and night lighting make it the most recognizable piece of Plaza San Angelo.
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