Círculo Mexicano: Soulful Minimalism in Mexico City

Local history and minimalist design come together at Círculo Mexicano, a new boutique hotel in the center of Mexico City. The grand 19th-century building, located just behind the city’s main cathedral, has been given a spare and luminous interior courtesy of Ambrosi | Etchegaray, the Mexico City-based architecture studio led by Jorge Ambrosi and Gabriele Etchegaray. The designers tasked themselves with creating a modern luxury hotel that keeps faith with the building’s past, with Shaker-inspired interiors featuring materials and furniture crafted by local artisans. According to Ambrosi,  the firm “tried to reduce the elements to make them a part of the architecture.” The resulting design is elegant and contemplative, providing a serene getaway just a short walk from the city’s cultural center.

Let’s take a look.

Photos courtesy of Grupo Habita.

Ambrosi and Etchegaray worked with local Mexican artists and artisans to outfit the room’s interiors. The simple architecture helps the objects stand out: carefully crafted wooden furniture by La Metropolitana complements hand-blown light fixtures from Duco Lab and textiles sewn by Oaxacan artisans. These utilitarian pieces are faithful to traditional Shaker design, with a premium on simplicity and functionality.

The original building was home to celebrated Mexican photographer Manuel Álvarez Bravo. He shot one of his most famous works, El Ensueño (The Daydream), in the building’s inner courtyard. This work and selected others are now displayed throughout the hotel.

For more in Mexico City:

Rosetta: Mexico City’s Most Beautiful Restaurant?

Restaurant Visit: Baja Transported, in Mexico City

Onora Casa: Traditional Mexican Goods Made Modern