By Architectural Digest & Urban Design News
Published August 9, 2026
Main Facts
In the heart of Guadalajara’s vibrant and historically rich Colonia Americana neighborhood, a quiet revolution in architectural preservation has taken place. The Rayón 376 Terrace, a striking intervention spearheaded by Eduardo Garretti Studio—with design leadership from architects Aureliano Alejos and Leonora Castorena—breathes new life into an early 20th-century residential structure.
Rather than erasing the past or falling into the trap of pastiche, the project carefully negotiates the fine line between historical reverence and contemporary functional needs. The intervention centers on the property’s spatiality and habitability, transforming an aging footprint into a sophisticated, highly adaptable living space. Through a meticulous selection of materials—predominantly featuring warm woods, structural steel beams, and expansive glass partitions—the design team has established a cohesive architectural language that respects the pre-existing structure while introducing modern luxury, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and optimized urban density solutions.
Curated by Valentina Díaz, the project has quickly garnered international attention for demonstrating how historic Latin American neighborhoods can evolve without losing their architectural identity.
Chronology
The journey of Rayón 376 from a deteriorating early 20th-century dwelling to a celebrated modern terrace reflects a thoughtful, phased timeline of design, heritage assessment, and precise execution:
- Early 20th Century: The original structure is erected during a period of significant architectural expansion in what would become Colonia Americana, showcasing traditional regional construction techniques, high ceilings, and classic spatial layouts typical of the era.
- Decades of Transition: As the neighborhood evolves from an elite residential enclave into a vibrant, mixed-use cultural hub, the property experiences various minor alterations, gradually falling short of contemporary spatial and structural requirements.
- Pre-Design & Research Phase (Eduardo Garretti Studio): Architects Aureliano Alejos and Leonora Castorena undertake an exhaustive archival and structural analysis of the house. The goal is to identify core historic elements worth preserving—such as original load-bearing masonry, spatial volumes, and structural rhythms—while pinpointing areas ripe for functional enhancement.
- Design & Engineering Intervention: The studio conceptualizes the terrace addition. The design integrates modern timber and glass mechanics with the historic fabric, focusing heavily on natural light diffusion, ventilation, and structural reinforcement.
- Construction & Material Integration: Craftsmen and builders execute the sensitive intervention. Steel beams are introduced to stabilize and span open zones, while rich wood finishes are custom-fitted to harmonize with the aged masonry and historical detailing.
- Completion and Public Unveiling (August 2026): The project is officially documented and published, captured through the photographic lens of Lazarillo.mx, and curated for a global audience via architectural platforms like ArchDaily.
Supporting Data
To fully appreciate the scope and spatial philosophy behind Rayón 376 Terrace, it is helpful to look at the architectural parameters, material palettes, and urban context defining the project:
- Location: Colonia Americana, Guadalajara, Mexico—an area globally renowned for its eclectic mix of Neoclassical, Art Deco, and Modernist architecture from the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.
- Original Era: Early 20th-century domestic architecture.
- Lead Architects: Aureliano Alejos and Leonora Castorena (Eduardo Garretti Studio).
- Curatorial Oversight: Valentina Díaz.
- Primary Material Palette:
- Exposed Wood: Used for structural framing, tactile interior accents, and threshold transitions.
- Structural Steel Beams: Deployed to support wide spans and frame transitional spaces without heavy masonry blocks.
- Glass: Maximizes transparency, dissolves barriers between interior rooms and the exterior terrace, and floods the historic floor plan with natural daylight.
- Photographic Documentation: Lazarillo.mx.
- Typology: Adaptive reuse, historic residential intervention, terrace architecture, interior renovation.
Official Responses and Design Philosophy
The success of adaptive reuse projects often hinges on the philosophical alignment between the design team, local heritage expectations, and the spatial realities of the site. While direct bureaucratic transcripts remain part of local municipal filings, the architectural statements provided by Eduardo Garretti Studio shed deep light on their methodology.
In their official design description, the architects emphasize a philosophy of coherence over imitation:
"This project is located in the iconic Colonia Americana neighborhood. Inside a house dating from the early 20th century, architects Aureliano Alejos and Leonora Castorena developed an intervention that elevated the property’s spatiality and habitability, giving it a unique language that is coherent with its preexistence."
This statement underscores a vital principle in contemporary heritage architecture: true respect for a historical building does not mean locking it in amber. Instead, Garretti Studio argues that a building must remain habitable and relevant to contemporary lifestyles. By introducing a "unique language" that converses with the old rather than mimicking it, the studio ensures that future generations can clearly read the layers of history embedded within the walls. The old masonry speaks of the early 20th century, while the clean timber frames, glass thresholds, and steel interventions mark the early 21st-century chapter of the home’s biography.
Implications
The completion and critical acclaim of the Rayón 376 Terrace carry profound implications for urban planners, preservationists, and architects working across Latin America and dense historic districts globally.
1. A Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Density
Historic neighborhoods like Colonia Americana face immense pressures from real estate speculation, often resulting in the demolition of historic structures to make way for high-density, sterile apartment blocks. Rayón 376 offers an alternative model: vertical and spatial intensification through sensitive interior and rooftop interventions. By upgrading habitability from within, the project proves that historic districts can absorb modern lifestyle demands without sacrificing their architectural heritage or tearing down their past.
2. The Evolution of Adaptive Reuse
For years, historic preservation was dominated by a purist mindset that sought to freeze buildings in a singular moment in time. Eduardo Garretti Studio joins a progressive wave of contemporary practices demonstrating that historic buildings are living organisms. The introduction of modern materials—such as sleek structural steel and contemporary glazing—alongside timeworn wood and masonry creates a rich, layered spatial experience. This dialogue between epochs elevates the emotional and aesthetic value of the architecture.
3. Enhancing Micro-Climate and Well-being
By transforming the upper level into an expansive, light-filled terrace, the project directly addresses post-pandemic lifestyle shifts that prioritize outdoor access, natural ventilation, and mental well-being within the home. In dense urban fabrics, carving out these breathable micro-environments is essential for sustainable city living.
4. Setting a Precedent for Guadalajara’s Architectural Community
As Guadalajara continues to cement its status as a powerhouse of contemporary Mexican design, projects like Rayón 376 raise the bar for local interventions. They remind developers and designers that heritage is an asset, not an obstacle. Through meticulous curation, precise detailing, and profound architectural empathy, Eduardo Garretti Studio has ensured that the history of Rayón 376 will not only be preserved, but actively lived for decades to come.