Casa Emilio Dondé 7, Mexico City

Spatial Stories is a series that explores healthy, sustainable, and inclusive places.

There’s a kind of magic that happens when a space remembers who it is.

I felt that magic the moment I stepped into Casa Emilio Dondé 7, tucked in the heart of Mexico City's Historic Center. Built in the 1860s, this heritage building has witnessed generations of change, yet remains deeply rooted in cultural memory. After decades of deterioration, it has been lovingly restored and given new life. Today, it stands as a quiet marvel: a mixed-use space that blends residential with commercial offerings, creating a place where everyday living and community life naturally coexist. The property was honored at the XVII National Biennial of Mexican Architecture, an award organized by the Federation of Colleges of Architects of the Mexican Republic (AC) to recognize the country's most sustainable, inclusive, and accessible architectural projects.

● Inclusion markers 

One of the things that struck me most was how the building invites people in through its central courtyard. A bookstore tucked inside offers literature on society and culture. On one Saturday evening, the courtyard even hosted a political book reading. These welcoming moments of learning and lingering reminded me of how vital it is to have spaces where civic imagination is not just allowed, but encouraged.

● Wellbeing markers 

The interior greenery woven throughout the building creates gentle breathing spaces. Cascading plants kiss the concrete courtyard walls, potted greenery decorates brick doorsteps, and green terraces soften the hard edges of stone. Even brief exposure to greenery can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and help regulate the nervous system. Here, nature isn’t decorative— it’s restorative, quietly working to make the body and mind feel more at ease.

● Sustainability markers 

Sustainability here feels deeply tied to memory and material. Instead of demolishing and building anew, this project worked with what already existed, restoring its historical elements and updating them to meet contemporary needs. That alone is a sustainable act—preserving embodied carbon, maintaining local identity, and reducing construction waste. It feels like a place where history and possibility can sit side by side.

My final take? Casa Emilio Dondé 7 is a must visit. The project, carried out by ReUrbano in conjunction with architects Andrea Vázquez Bracho Hidalgo and Juan Bautista Carral O'Gorman, honors design that doesn’t just look good—but feels good, does good, and welcomes more of us in. 

Learn more about the property here.