Urban densification, shared living, informal settlements, recovery of public spaces, socioeconomic changes: these are among the main topics that architects and urban planners have been addressing in Mexican cities (and peripheries) in recent years. These issues are also behind Las Hadas, a project by Reims 502, which is one of the first multi-housing buildings in the suburbs of Santiago de Querétaro, which are characterised by the prevalence of single-family homes.
The building stands out in its suburban context for its mass – a compact block of rough concrete four storeys high – and is characterised by a rhythmic, logical and simple composition, determined by the need for economic efficiency. The project’s elongated body is emptied inside and features various patios, terraces and private or shared gardens. In the central patio, which gives access to the three flats, there is an olive tree, which has been planted to celebrate new life for the community.