By Architectural Digest & Urban Design News
Published: August 5, 2026
Main Facts
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern architecture, the challenge of breathing new life into historical structures while meeting the demands of contemporary lifestyles remains one of the most delicate balancing acts for designers. Enter PH Juana, a striking residential project realized by Estudio NU, curated by Valentina Díaz, and captured through the lens of architectural photographer Luis Barandarin.
Located within a densely built urban fabric, PH Juana stands as a testament to the power of adaptive reuse. Rather than razing the old to make way for the generic new, the project proposes a harmonious dialogue between the existing structural fabric and contemporary interventions. The result is a residential space where raw materials—predominantly exposed concrete, rich brickwork, and warm timber—converge to create a fresh reinterpretation of domestic living.
The core attributes of the PH Juana project include:
- Project Name: PH Juana
- Architectural Firm: Estudio NU
- Curator: Valentina Díaz
- Photographer: Luis Barandarin
- Primary Materials: Concrete, exposed brick, wood, and steel
- Key Spatial Elements: Interconnected courtyards, sculptural staircases, fluid indoor-outdoor transitions, and custom integrated joinery
Chronology
The realization of PH Juana was a meticulous process of discovery, stripping away decades of accumulated alterations to reveal the structure’s original architectural DNA, followed by a careful layering of modern functionality.
Phase 1: Assessment and Discovery (Early Planning)
Before any physical design work commenced, Estudio NU conducted an exhaustive structural and historical survey of the existing site. The architects sought to identify original load-bearing elements, historical masonry, and spatial configurations that could be salvaged. This phase was crucial for determining how to introduce modern amenities—such as open-plan kitchens, improved vertical circulation, and optimized natural lighting—without compromising the integrity of the original building envelope.
Phase 2: Demolition and Archaeological Stripping
The construction phase began with a controlled deconstruction. Unsympathetic additions from prior decades were carefully peeled away, exposing the raw textures of the historic brick and foundational concrete. This surgical approach allowed the design team to make real-time decisions on-site, adapting their architectural drawings to the physical realities and pleasant surprises uncovered beneath the surface finishes.
Phase 3: Structural Integration and Core Reinforcement
Once the envelope was stabilized, Estudio NU integrated modern structural elements. This included pouring new concrete foundations and staircases that bridge different levels, as well as reinforcing structural bays to support expanded living zones. The interplay between old brick and new, cast-in-place concrete became the defining aesthetic of this structural phase, establishing a clear visual timeline of the building’s evolution.
Phase 4: Interior Craftsmanship and Spatial Refinement
The final phase focused on human scale and tactile finishes. Custom millwork, warm wood cabinetry, and sleek countertops were introduced to soften the industrial rawness of the concrete and brick. Courtyards and lightwells were optimized to flood the deep floor plans with natural sunlight, bringing vitality and seasonal rhythm into the core of the home.
Supporting Data
To fully understand the spatial ambition of PH Juana, one must look at how material choices and spatial programming interact across the property’s footprint. Estudio NU’s design relies on a restrained palette that prioritizes texture over ornament.
| Architectural Element | Material Composition | Primary Design Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical Circulation | Cast-in-place concrete & steel | To create a sculptural anchor that unifies multi-level living areas while maximizing light penetration. |
| Living Spaces | Exposed historic brick & timber | To maintain a tactile connection to the past while introducing domestic warmth and acoustic comfort. |
| Kitchen & Dining | Hardwood, stone countertops, minimalist joinery | To provide high-performance, functional ergonomics wrapped in a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. |
| Transition Zones | Interior courtyards & glazed openings | To blur the boundaries between indoor rooms and exterior micro-climates, ensuring cross-ventilation. |
Spatial sequencing is another critical data point in the project’s success. By deliberately compressing and expanding volumes—moving from narrow, intimate entry corridors into double-height, light-filled communal zones—Estudio NU orchestrates a sensory journey for inhabitants and visitors alike.
Official Responses and Design Philosophy
In their official design statement, the architects at Estudio NU elaborated on the conceptual framework driving PH Juana:
"PH Juana proposes a space where the existing and the new coexist to give rise to a fresh reinterpretation of contemporary living."
This philosophy moves away from the past-piche tabula rasa approach that has long dominated urban development. Instead, Estudio NU views history not as a constraint, but as an active collaborator in the design process.
Curator Valentina Díaz underscored this sentiment, noting that the project successfully bridges generational divides in architecture: "The brilliance of PH Juana lies in its refusal to mask its history. Every scar, every shift in material from different eras is celebrated as part of a continuous narrative. It demonstrates that contemporary comfort does not require the erasure of memory."
Local construction specialists and urban planners have also praised the studio’s restraint. By retaining the core shell and minimizing new material extraction, the project achieves a lower carbon footprint compared to ground-up urban builds, aligning with broader global movements toward sustainable, circular architectural practices.
Implications
The completion of PH Juana carries significant implications for urban housing design, particularly in dense Latin American cities grappling with the pressure of modernization versus heritage preservation.
1. A Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Regeneration
As cities expand outward and land becomes increasingly scarce, the revitalization of existing urban lots (often referred to locally in various Latin American contexts as Ph or propiedad horizontal configurations) is paramount. PH Juana offers a scalable model for how neglected or compartmentalized historic plots can be re-engineered into luminous, highly functional single-family or multi-family dwellings without altering the street-level historic urban fabric.
2. The Emotional Value of Material Authenticity
In an era dominated by hyper-processed, synthetic finishes, projects like PH Juana validate the human need for authentic, patinated materials. The tactile juxtaposition of old brick and modern concrete grounds the inhabitant in time and space, fostering a psychological sense of permanence and security that slick, brand-new developments often struggle to replicate.
3. Redefining Indoor-Outdoor Connections in Tight Urban Sites
Urban infill projects frequently suffer from a lack of natural light and ventilation due to adjacent party walls. Estudio NU’s strategic carving of internal courtyards and light wells at PH Juana provides a blueprint for healthy urban housing. By treating voids as primary design tools rather than leftover spaces, the project proves that high-density living does not have to come at the expense of environmental quality and daylight access.
Ultimately, PH Juana by Estudio NU transcends being merely a successful residential renovation. It serves as a manifesto for thoughtful spatial stewardship—proving that the homes of tomorrow are best built by listening carefully to the stories embedded within the walls of yesterday.