Spontaneous spaces. Corporate Farmacia del Ahorro by Mass Operations

Project description by Mass Operations

Horizontal vs vertical
The project begins with the request for a -tower- for our client's new corporate headquarters. Analyzing the site and program we found that a vertical solution would be a mistake, generating a disjointed interior and west façade. By illustrating this we managed to get our client to opt for a horizontal development, well connected, open to the light from the north and protected from the west of Monterrey.

The plan arrangement of the project arises from a north-south linear scheme with a central core. Protected to the south and west with parasols, its north side forks to receive natural work light. This opening generates a central plaza on the ground floor, while above it bridges from east to west connect the wings of the project.


Corporate Farmacia del Ahorro by Mass Operations. Photograph by Francisco Alvarez.

The project is the result of a series of urban and programmatic considerations, from the city to the user. At an urban level, the building responds to its delimitation, sunlight and views of the La Huasteca ecological park. At a programmatic level, the project generates a public space and a sequence of circulations that allow navigation from the sidewalk to its roof through ramps, bridges and stairs. These at the same time generate spaces for spontaneous meetings and informal work environments.

In summary, the form and function of the project can be reduced to a series of operations:

-Grow horizontally, not vertically.
-Protect west and south façade.
-Fork plant to receive northern light.
-Connect through stairs, ramps and bridges, generating spaces for spontaneous collaboration.

From the general to the particular:
The project is the result of a series of considerations at two scales: Urban and Programmatic. From the City to the User. At an urban level, the building responds to the challenges presented by the delimitation of its site, the sunlight of Monterrey (unforgivable) and the privileged views of the Huasteca. At the level of the specific program and user, the project understands that a single team will be working together on the property, thus proposing spaces communicated both visually and physically through bridges, the minimum of level changes and large staircases that function as spaces of work, meeting and/or collaboration to articulate the required levels.


Corporate Farmacia del Ahorro by Mass Operations. Photograph by Francisco Alvarez.

Yes to stairs, no to elevators:
Is there anything more inefficient than waiting for an elevator 3 times a day? What fruitful conversation has come out of an elevator ride? At the Farmacias del Ahorro corporate office we opt for stairs and ramps over elevators. The strategy begins from the outside, where the sidewalk gives access to the northern plaza through a large staircase with a interspersed ramp. Inside, the hall is presented by a second staircase, this acts as a meeting and work space, which coexists with rapid circulation by having an interspersed escalator. In this way different spaces of vertical circulation are connected, creating spaces for collaboration and spontaneous meetings until reaching the roof of the project where a common garden is planted.

Form and function:
The form of the project is the result of the previously established considerations which can be reduced to a series of operations:

— Linear development and low height.
— Facade of parasols protecting west and south.
— Plant with a central core that branches and opens towards the northern light.
— Articulation and connectivity through stairs, ramps and bridges creating spaces for interaction.