Mexican architecture firm HEMAA has built a slender skyscraper that stands elegantly on a narrow plot in Mexico City, Mexico. 

Named Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca 780, the 13-storey skyscraper is situated on a narrow strip of land which was destined to become a neglected area of the city. 

Situated between a narrow street and the remnants of the Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca Railroad, HEMAA faced the challenge of envisioning "a graceful" tower that would adapt to the difficult terrain. This tower would emerge like a resilient plants that flourish in the face of hardship, exceeding all expectations.

Inheriting its external appearance from the industrial past of the urban fabric, the tower becomes an elegant representation of modern architecture using steel, concrete and glass.

The structure is a result of meticulous analysis and reworking of classical architectural features. The design explores attractive proportions in great detail, using golden ratios whenever feasible. 

Moreover, it demonstrates a knowledge of steel, concrete, and glass construction in the context of contemporary architecture while paying close attention to the site's unique characteristics. 

Each of the base, shaft, and capital that make up its volumetric composition reveals its own character through a variety of modulations and windows of different sizes.

The design removes any obstacles from the floors by cleverly using the structural facade. A constructive technique like this produces modules that carefully arrange the facades and maximize the use of interior space. 

These facades, which are enclosed within the urban setting, primarily use glazing to let in a lot of natural light and to blend the building in with its surroundings.

Image © Rory Gardiner

In terms of architecture, the bottom floor welcomes guests with two symmetrical entrances on the north and south faces, which allow pedestrian traffic to flow freely and visually connect the street to the newly finished linear park along the railroad. 

Its domain includes two parking cabins, aided by a robotic pallet system, and two service cores that include utilities, restrooms, stairwells, and elevators. 

Image © Rory Gardiner

The ground floor is further enhanced with a commercial space intended for a local coffee shop with welcoming terraces. The program streamlines on the normal floors, keeping only the most important service cores. 

On the thirteenth story, however, the inner space recedes to make room for a spacious terrace that offers expansive views that stretch from Chapultepec Park to the city skyline. 

Image © Rory Gardiner

Storage rooms, cleaning and maintenance areas, and other areas essential to the building's smooth functioning are located below street level. Interestingly, 126 parking spots spread over 13 storeys are accommodated by a robotic parking system. 

The limited site limitations and local standard requirements that made it difficult to use a conventional parking system gave rise to this creative approach.

Image © Rory Gardiner

"The substantial materiality of steel serves as an evocative reminder of the area's industrial past. Once peripheral, this district has undergone a remarkable rejuvenation, emerging as one of Mexico City's most vibrant locales, boasting unparalleled cultural, economic, and infrastructural growth in recent years," said HEMAA. 

"Echoing this historical resonance, the building's name boldly situates the tower alongside the railway tracks." 

"Guided by the principles of rationality, order, and meticulous proportion, this project aspires to contribute to the urban fabric, becoming an integral part of its narrative," the firm added.

Image © Rory Gardiner

Apart from its historical significance, the choice of steel as the primary building material is crucial for tackling the particular difficulties presented by Mexico City's seismic regulations. 

The city's building standards mandate that structures have strong systems that can withstand earthquake forces because the area is seismically active. 

Image © Rory Gardiner

The project collaborated with elite structural designers known for their proficiency in seismic-resistant design in order to meet the seismic difficulties and guarantee the highest degree of structural integrity. 

The structure has a distinctive and unique form while blending in with its surroundings. Its shape gently changes depending on the time of observation and the viewpoint of the observer, providing a multitude of distinct interpretations. 

Image © Rory Gardiner

Its "unequivocal identity" provides the perfect setting for the tower to take on a lively life once it is occupied. Architecture and technology blend together to create a flexible system that guarantees effective resource management and energy use.

In addition, Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca 780 is certified by LEED, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. Advanced HVAC systems, high-efficiency lighting, and insulation systems are examples of energy efficiency techniques that guarantee optimal energy use and lower carbon emissions. 

Water consumption can be considerably decreased by implementing water conservation techniques, such as rainwater collection and energy-efficient plumbing fixtures. 

The health and well-being of occupants are promoted by adequate natural lighting and efficient air replacement, which are key components of indoor environmental quality. 

With expansive windows, a rooftop garden, and outdoor gathering spaces that improve the user experience overall, the building's architecture promotes a connection to nature.

Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca 780 actively contributes to the restoration of the neighboring urban ecosystem in addition to adapting to it. It engages in an active conversation with its community, embracing its obligation to public space. 

As a result, a section of the property has been set aside for public space expansion rather than new development. 

This will promote connectivity and ease traffic flow by linking a densely populated and once congested street to the Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca Railroad linear park. 

Additionally, the ground floor's planned commercial area adds to the lively ambiance. Like the nearby parks and museums, this structure accepts the duty of creating a resilient urban fabric in which the past and present coexist peacefully to create a picture that represents the city's future.

Location plan

Basement floor plan

Ground floor plan

Floor plan

Floor plan

East façade

North facade

Axonometric drawing 

Axonometric detail drawing 

Project facts

Project name: Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca 780

Architects: HEMAA

Location: Mexico City, Mexico 

Building area: 9,464.43m²

Design and Construction Team: Santiago Hernández Matos, Alejandra Tornel Cahue, José Miguel Fainsod Castro, José Pedro López González, Alonso Sánchez Toscano, Adriana Aguirre Becerra, Andrea Motilla Chávez, Daniela Parra Orozco, José Miguel Santivañez Gómez, Juan Octavio Ferreira, Mónica García Cruz, Patricio Salgado Rodríguez.

Estructural Engineering: PESA

Electric Engineering: DEC

Plumbing Engineering: Garza Maldonado

HVAC Engineering: CYVSA

Special Engineering: TecnoBuildings

Landscape Design: DLC Architects

LEED Certification Comissioning: Alejandro Trillo + Gabriel Morales

Architectural Model: Taller Cuatro Cuartos

Model Photographs: Rodrigo Chapa

Others: Omar Sad / Augusto Álvarez

The top image in the article © Rory Gardiner.

All images © César Béjar unless otherwise statated.

All drawings © HEMAA. 

> via HEMAA

HEMAA Mexico City skyscraper tower