At Tatiana Bilbao’s house in Mexico City
In May Tatiana Bilbao will be on a special mission in Venice for the 19th Biennial of Architecture. Was chosen by Vatican to animate with Maio architects The Holy See pavilionwhich will take place this year in Complex of Santa Maria Ausiliatricein the Sestiere of Castle.
The theme of the sacred It is not new to them. One of the projects that are most close to her is the Cistercian monastery who is building in the Brandenburg forestin Germany. « But that’s not why they thought of me, » clarifies.
With the exposure commissioner, the cardinal José Tolentino de mendonçatalked about architecture For people and with people: «The project will be a guided recovery of the space that has been made available to us, and will involve the whole community. It is no coincidence that it is titled Open work: Our idea is to bring the Biennale closer to those who live it every day ».
With a International Portfolio that ranges fromsocial housing to museums, Bilbao He is among the flagship designers of Contemporary Mexico And he often finds himself wondering about the annular theme ofParticipatory architecturewhat Talk to people and it does not come fallen from above.
It is one of the reasons why he reduced one of his myths of youth, Mario Paniarchitect and urban planner who in the boom years has changed the face of Mexico City. «He was the architect with a capital, and it was fundamental in shaping the idea of modern Mexico. But today I prefer a less institutional approach. Those who design cannot impose their ideas for those who have to live in that place ».
Beyond this divergence of visions, Bakery For Bilbao remains a great architect. When he decided to move to the neighborhood of Polancoan exclusive residential area of the capital, sought home in one of its buildings.
It is a building of only six apartments in front of the Chapultepec parkthe largest in the city. Built in 1946, it represents a Bake interlude phasebetween the years of luxury residences and those of Vivienda Collectiva. «When I saw the rent I didn’t want to believe it, for me to live here it was a dream. I find it a beautiful, modernist work in everything. And even if it was born to test a new idea of functionality, it preserves Art Déco traces. We moved to the end of 2006 and we still live happily ».
That of Tatiana Bilbao is one large family. He has two girls, of thirteen and eleven years, and the three children born from a previous relationship of her husband have also grown with her.
The studyfive minutes by bike from home, takes one fifty people. How do you manage everything? “Without pretending to do alone. In the studio we are five partners, including my sister Catia, and home I have other people who help me. It is said that it takes a village to grow a child, I created mine ».
On the house as little as possible. «The only aspect I didn’t like was the double circulation, designed for the service staff. He suggest that there are two types of people, those who work at home and those who live there, and it is a thought that I do not share ».
Apart from this, the plant remained as it was. The real revolution is the Room built on the roof. Three bedrooms were not enough and there was the possibility of raising: «We made a very light structure, which cannot be seen from the road and that can be easily removed. At any time you can go back, bring the architecture as it was. «
To furnishings He didn’t think about it much. I like them Furniture that have a history And they age wellthings simple and practical. There are works of art, he is not a collector. The stone table saw him at an exhibition, interested it and took it.
The thing that appreciates most of this house is the relationship with green: «It is a space-filter that protects us from the city, but it is also as if it were part of the apartment. You really have the feeling of living in a garden «
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