CDLE complex
(Casa de la Libertad de Expresión)

The CDLE is housed in a building from the beginning of the 20th century classified as artistic heritage by the National Institute of Fine Arts. It was originally for residential use, but over time it has had multiple uses, from the headquarters of Mexican booksellers to the Giro Negro club. All this gives personality to the place and makes it unique. As with a person, the building acquires its character through their own experiences.

This intervention is not intended to erase the essence of the place but to be another chapter in the history of this construction. Through a series of modifications, we created flexible spaces that respond to the requirements of the three different governing bodies that now house the building. The idea behind the CDLE was to take advantage of what existed, not to adapt it but simply to use all the elements to create without building, in a determination that practically goes against the supposed work of the architect.

In this project, austerity led us to focus the available resources on carrying out forceful actions that would demonstrate the passage of time —something impossible to imitate when building—, as well as exploring possibilities based on unbuilt space —the vacuum—to propose a central courtyard that articulates spaces and allows users to appropriate the place.