Taller MGL + Fernando R. Manjarrez transform a forgotten 13th-floor terrace into a modular timber pavilion that frames the sprawling cityscape of Mexico City.
The design operates on two clear principles. First, it frames the panorama. The pavilion opens toward both northern and southern horizons, pulling the urban landscape into the architecture as an active participant rather than a backdrop. Second, it preserves openness. Rather than filling the terrace with fixed programs, the design maintains adaptability, allowing the space to shift between uses as life demands. Both objectives were achieved within a modest budget and through materials light enough not to compromise the existing building's structural capacity.
Landscape wraps the pavilion like a mediating skin. Resilient plant species in custom containers fabricated from recycled construction materials create a microclimate beneath the sun, an oasis-like perception from within. The greenery adds privacy without enclosure, reinforcing the project's integration of structure, environment, and everyday use. It is architecture that understands restraint, that knows when to frame a view and when to simply step aside.
