Arch Tracker

Project: Space Mexico
Author: SPACE
Juan Carlos Baumgartner
Jimena Fernández Navarra
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Lighting: Kai diederichsen
Furniture: Steelcase
Carpets: Lee Carpets
Contractor: Energía y ecosistemas S.A. de C.V.
Photography: Huguette Ampudia

Space Mexico: in search of a green esthetic
The issue of how to convert human groups in sustainable societies has ceased to be a romantic notion. Today it is a need for anyone who aspires to have a viable future. In virtually all man’s activities, the issue of sustainability is changing the vision of how we do what we do. Architecture is no exception.

Today, buildings are responsible for 12% of the use of all the water of the planet, for 39% of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, for 65% of the waste generated in the world, and for 70% of electricity consumption. Despite these alarming figures, those who lecture, build and market architecture have done little to correct and stop the damage that the built spaces do to the planet.

SPACE was founded in Chicago by Juan Carlos Baumgartner, a Mexican architect, and Jean Bellas, an American architect, just over 10 years ago. It is an international architecture firm with more than 15 offices around the world.

Since its inception, SPACE has been a firm committed to the environment and to sustainable architecture. It has carried out sustainable projects with LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an international certification responsible for the validation and endorsement of architecture projects that comply with higher standards and sustainable practices, both in the United States and in Mexico.

Due to the firm’s growth, SPACE faced the need to relocate their offices, which raised a unique opportunity: time had come to show the firm’s commitment to sustainable architecture. So it designed one of the first office spaces in Latin America with LEED C1 certification, certification geared to interior spaces. In this way, SPACE Mexico is the first architecture firm in Latin America with a certified office.

The challenge was not an easy one; the intention was to generate a project with certification to demonstrate the viability of its use in Mexico’s market with not necessarily higher cost or more time to carry out.

The conceptual approach of the project was simple and complex at the same time. It was not possible for us to apply the rules, both esthetic and functional, to which we are used. It was time to rethink new rules and seek a new esthetic, that is to say, a green esthetic.

From the beginning, a leading idea showed us the correct way: to base on the three “Rs” underlying any green architecture: Reducing, Recycling, Reutilizing.

Space is a true image of the values and beliefs of the organization. It is a container that fosters communication, teamwork, and it is especially a place that reflects the passion and love for architectural endeavor.

Thanks to architectural partition and to lighting design, lighting electric consumption was reduced a 30%. Also, 76% of the materials used in the work of this project were of reutilization.

Both the workstations and the chairs are Cradle to Cradle certified. Such certification is given to products that use healthy and safe materials, which can be easily reused, which are manufactured by companies that use renewable energy, which maximize the use of water and which have social strategies.

All the materials used in the project have low or zero VOC emissions (Volatile Organic Compounds), in addition to the fact that many of them are recycled and quickly renewable as well. The sealers, paints and adhesives are water-based and VOC free, what ensures the interior air quality. Carpets used are CRI Green Label Plus certified, a certification granted to products that exceed standards of low VOC emissions, both in adhesives and in carpet below and carpet. Each employee has natural light and outside views.

The resulting space is an excellent example of what in the United States is known as the High Performance Green Space, which aligns architecture, technology and human resource in an area that respects the environment and seeks to improve the performance of the organizations. The benefits are innumerable. But the greatest benefit is ours, for our descendants, for our world.

Once again, SPACE sets the guidelines in design and architecture, demonstrating their commitment through example. SPACE is committed to its environment.

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