AD Interviews: Michel Rojkind

While in , we had the chance to visit Michel Rojkind ’s office in La Condesa to interview  him and jam on his recording studio hidden in the architecture workshop. We have been big fans of Michel’s work, the result of constant investigation and iteration pushed by by the collaborative character of his studio and multiplied by Michel’s passion for architecture.

Michel is part of a fantastic new generation of Mexican architects that brings fresh ideas to a context with a strong tradition. He started his architecture studies while also being the drummer of a well known Mexican rock band, graduating from the Universidad Iberoamericana in 1994. Between 1999 and 2002 he worked with Isaac Broid and Miquel Adriá on Adriá+Broid+, and he started his own studio Rojkind Arquitectos  in 2002.

Since then, the firm has been on a strong path of innovation and exploration of architectural programs and building techniques, successfully translating the complex forms of these new ideas into realities that can be built with local manufacturing skills. 

Michel is very good at communicating his ideas, something very important to deliver the vision he has for his projects, but he is also very good at transmitting his passion, something that anyone who has been on his lectures will agree, inspiring young architects to demonstrate that it is possible to run the kind of studio that you want to run, despite all the problems and frustrations you will face along the way.

Michel is currently finishing the extension of the National Film Archive in Mexico City   which we are going to visit in a few days, so stay tuned for more updates on Instagram  and Facebook .

Recent projects by Michel Rojkind at ArchDaily:

Portal of Awareness / Rojkind Arquitectos

© Jaime Navarro

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos
Location: México
Design Team: , Gerardo Salinas
Collaborators: Arie Willem de Jongh, Alfredo Hernández
Client: Nescafé
Area: 42.0 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Jaime Navarro

In Progress: XXI Century National Film Archive / Rojkind Arquitectos

Render 01

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos
Location: City,
Architects: , Gerardo Salinas
Design Team: Alonso de la Fuente Obregón, Rafael Cedillo Sánchez, Phillip Schlauch, Birgit Hammer, Djurdja Milutinovic, Alfredo Hernández Soto, Rodrigo Medina, Juan Manuel Ortuño, David Stalin Vergara, Dolores Robles – Martínez Gómez,Isaac Smeke, Andrea León
Project Year: 2012
Photographs: Courtesy of Guido Torres, Rojkind Arquitectos

Transformadora CIEL / Rojkind Arquitectos + AGENT

© Jaime Navarro

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos, AGENT
Location: City,
Architecture Project: Michel Rojkind, Gerardo Salinas, Alberto Villarreal
Project Team: Felipe Castañeda, Isaac Smeke
Illumination: Sylumis +
Vegetation: Zona Verde Mx
Mep: Innovative Design
Client: The Coca-Cola Company
Structural Engineer: Jorge A. Cadena
Area: 500.0 sqm
Proyect Year: 2012
Photography: Jaime Navarro

As part of an ongoing collaboration with The Coca-Cola Company, Rojkind Arquitectos to- gether with AGENT worked on the design of Foro Ciel, the physical space which will house the content for the Transformadora Ciel pro- grams.

Total Scheme

Foro Ciel emerges as the vivid example of a positive transformation as its main premise. Having an unused space as a starting point (flat roof and helipad) and transforming it into a productive co-working center, surrounded by green areas, the space not only achieves functionality but also revives a corner of the city.

© Jaime Navarro

The site, reinvented with recycled materials and a series of clean technologies, acquires a green roof whose vegetation does not require irriga- tion from the grid since a rain water collecting system was installed.
Regarding the environmental impact, we took into account various aspects during design and construction to minimize environmental damage and even have a positive impact. For example, the aesthetic “industrial” project is intended to leave many elements (facilities, pipelines, etc.) So apparent to avoid using ex- tra materials finishes.

© Jaime Navarro

The customized furniture, includes inter- changeable modules that activate a flexible configuration interior where different groups are able to work in various topics and re-ar- range the layout as their work flow requires to. The shapes within the space, as well the curved windows are reminiscent of Ciel’s “double droplep” logotype and a representation of the dynamic work space it holds.

General Scheme

- Natural and LED-based lighting

© Jaime Navarro

- Water-based paint for structural elements – Powder coated paint for most furniture pieces.
- The majority of furniture pieces are locally produced.

© Jaime Navarro

- Green roof including an orchad with rain water collection system.

© Jaime Navarro

- Use of recycled materials and re-utilization of existing structural elements from the helipad.

- Use of low impact materials that contribute to LEED certification

- Solar panels which contribute to most of the electrical requirements of the space.

- Exposed installations to eliminate the need of unnecessary finishes.

Liverpool Department Store / Rojkind Arquitectos

© , photo by Paúl Rivera

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos
Location: Huixquilucan,
Project Architects: Michel Rojkind, Gerardo Salinas
Project Team: Joe R. Tarr, Djurdja Milutinovic, Rodrigo Medina, Philipp Schlauch, Birgit Hammer, Jose Carlos Lombana, Abhirabika Agrawal, Rosalba Rojas Chávez, Dolores Robles-Martínez Gómez, Andrea León Cruz
Client: Liverpool
Area: 30,000 sqm
Completion: 2011
Photographs: Paúl Rivera

Tori Tori Restaurant / Rojkind Arquitectos + ESRAWE Studio

© Paúl Rivera

Architectural Project: Rojkind Arquitectos + Esrawe Studio
Location: Polanco, Mexico City
Project Team (): Tere Levy, Agustín Pereyra, Raúl Araiza, Carlos Alberto Ríos, Isaac Smeke J., Enrique F. de la Barrera, Daniela Bustamante, Daniel Hernández
Project Team (): Ricardo Casas, Basia Pineda, Ian Castillo, Karianne Rygh, Alejandra Castelao, Jorge Bracho, Alejandro Zárate, Marcela Muñoz, Edgar Sánchez, Rodrigo L. Franco
Construction Area: 629 sqm
Status: Completed
Design Date: 2009
Completion Date: 2011
Photographer: Paúl Rivera

   

Liverpool Department Store / Rojkind Arquitectos

© Axel Fridman

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos / Michel Rojkind [Founding Partner], Gerardo Salinas [Partner]
Location: ,
Project Team: Joe R. Tarr Djurdja Milutinovic Rodrigo Medina Philipp Schlauch Birgit Hammer Jose Carlos Lombana Abhirabika Agrawal Rosalba Rojas Chávez Dolores Robles – Martínez Gómez Andrea León Cruz
Landscape Consultant: Thomas Balsley Associates
Structural Engineer: EMRSA
Client: Liverpool
Project Area: 30,000 sqm
Renderings: Axel Fridman

XXI Century National Film Archive / Rojkind Arquitectos

© , render by Axel Fridman

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos / Michel Rojkind, Gerardo Salinas
Location: , México
Project Area: 20,188 sqm
Renders: Rojkind Arquitectos, render by Axel Fridman

Reforma 432 Residences / Rojkind Arquitectos

© Rojkind Arquitectos

Architects: Rojkind Arquitectos /
Location: , Mexico
Project Direction and Coordination: Grupo Elipse
Interior Design: Buddha Bar Hotels & Spas
Renderings: Rojkind Arquitectos, dbox

High Park / Rojkind Arquitectos

Exterior View / © rojkind arquitectos

-based Rojkind Arquitectos shared with us their project ‘High Park’, a 13,000 sqm mixed use building in , Mexico. More images, a video, and the architect’s description after the break.