ICON San Ángel

ICON San Angel is a multi-family residential project with two towers, one on each side of the Anillo Periférico, a beltway running through much of the Valley of Mexico with an elevated second floor. The first tower, at number 2008, is 115 meters high with 184 apartments; the other, at number 1977 across the avenue, is 165 meters high and has 188 apartments. While Periferico 1977 was under construction, the design of Periferico 2008 was assigned. This project engages in compelling dialogue with Periferico, as well as with its urban context. It is located close to San Ángel, a historic and colonial district. These, in turn, coexist with the modern high office towers and apartments located on Periferico. Volumetrically, the buildings were solved using parallelepipeds; a pair of subtractions generates two large voids in each tower where triple-height green spaces were installed that, at the same time, separate a series of terraces that were strategically designed to accommodate around 200 trees per tower. Periferico 2008 is oriented east-west with views of San Angel, while Periferico 1977 is oriented north-south towards the emblematic Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatll volcanoes and Mexico City’s tallest buildings. Thanks to a reduced footprint design of 583.3 m2 (Periferico 1977) and 905.8 m2 (Periferico 2008) respectively, it was possible to preserve the maximum construction area allowed for each property at 21,000 m2, which made it possible to address the regulatory requirement of a 15-story orthogonal building with a mere 20% of open space per property to evolve into two towers, one with 30 stories and the other with 44 stories, with 50% and 56% of open space respectively. This separates them from the street and their surroundings to keep the complex private and peaceful. The visual and acoustic problems caused by the avenue were mitigated in both projects by allocating the common areas to lower levels, with the triple-height gardens at the level of the Perfierico´s Second Floor, thus shifting the apartments to the upper levels. Amenities in both towers include a gym, library, swimming pool, spa, business center, kids club, movie theater, and a rooftop terrace, all for the use of residents. The common areas are characterized by its large spaces and heights, where natural materials such as wood and white marble combine with works of art that enrich the spaces, provide a visual accent, and stimulate emotions, as do the lobby sculptures for both projects. The façade is composed of white precast concrete panels, with marble aggregates and insulating glass. The span-to-mass ratio in the main volume was designed to contrast with the common typologies of glass-fronted buildings in the area, while providing natural light and ventilation in all apartments. The project improves the lives of its inhabitants by connecting them with more open areas and greenery than other vertical residential complexes that are common in the city. Added to its relationship by framing one of the most important avenues in the city, make ICON San Ángel a new architectural and urban icon in the city.