Belzberg Architects forms curved aluminium strip structure around an office building in Mexico

An office building in Mexico City has experienced some aesthetic work on architectural aluminium when California firm Belzberg Architects has wrapped vertical aluminium strips around the outer cover of an office building in Mexico City. The design continues inside to form various nooks and private areas.

Belzberg Architects used a series of curved aluminium strips that were custom-made in California to frame the beautiful structure.

"We used the prominent corner siting of this six-storey building as a prompt to explore the function and form of its two street-facing elevations," said the studio. "While maintaining the maximum useable floor area, we created a fluid, habitable facade that counteracts the project's otherwise rectilinear geometry."

Titled Threads, the building is located in Mexico City's historic Cuauhtémoc neighbourhood which is turning into a hub for newly built condominiums and offices. The glass-covered six storeys building includes a rooftop patio and underground parking. It is the Latin American headquarters of French beverage company Pernod Ricard.

The curvy aluminium structure has added visual highlight to its otherwise boxy design. Laminated grey windows are added for heat protection as well as to improve visibility during the day.

The design firm has attached a total of 272 uniquely curved aluminium "fins" to the construction, forming a large focal point. Digital fabrication was used to make these intricate structural pieces, under the close monitoring of Belzberg Architects.

"The maximum gap between each portion is a 1/4 inch (0.63 centimetres), to maintain the appearance of a continuous vertical line," said the firm.

These silvery aluminium strips are also incorporated into the layout to form separate spaces for working and relaxing. Outdoor porches are also formed from the external aluminium strips, which create semi-protected balconies on the four corners.

"This link between the internal and external experience of the building from the street fosters a positive reciprocal relationship between the building and the community to which it belongs," said the studio.