The Owners Loved Their Home's 1960S Architecture, But It Felt Too Serious — Look What They Did Instead
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Architect Andrés Gutiérrez and his studio, A-G estudio, renovated a 1962 home in Mexico City’s San Ángel neighborhood for a couple who wanted a more playful interior without losing the house’s modernist character. The project restored the home’s library concept and preserved features including its floors and much of its woodwork, while introducing colorful, Mexican-made furnishings and art.

Architect Andrés Gutiérrez has renovated a 1962 modernist home in Mexico City’s San Ángel neighborhood, giving its interiors a more playful, colorful character while retaining key features of the original house. The owners wanted a fresher home that reflected their identity without treating the work of architect Jaime Ortiz Monasterio as something to erase, according to Livingetc’s project report.

Gutiérrez, whose studio is A-G estudio, led both the renovation and the interior design. The owners loved the home’s architecture but felt its atmosphere was too serious. They asked for a contemporary, colorful result with a distinctly Mexican identity, while avoiding what Gutiérrez described as folkloric clichés. Livingetc reports that all the furniture was made in Mexico and that the artwork is by Mexican creatives.

The interior combines lilac rugs and sofas, duck-egg-colored walls and pea-green upholstered chairs. Furniture includes work by Mexican designers and studios such as Antonio Attolini Lack, Ad Hoc, Bibi Bibi and Comité de Proyectos. Some pieces were customized for the home, while Gutiérrez designed items including cabinets, credenzas and outdoor dining chairs. The art selection includes works that refer to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past and pieces with strong color, according to the architect.

The architectural work was more restrained than the furnishings. Gutiérrez said the team aimed to preserve as much original character as possible, particularly the floors and extensive woodwork. The report says some timber was replaced and window frames and glass were renewed. The project also restored the living room’s nearly floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which had been removed by a previous owner, and returned the library to a central role in the house.

At a glance
reportWhen: The completed renovation is described i…
The developmentA renovation by Andrés Gutiérrez recast a 1962 modernist home in Mexico City with bold color and Mexican design while restoring elements of its original architecture.

Colorful Interiors, Preserved Architecture

The project shows one way owners can update a home with a strong architectural identity without making the renovation a wholesale redesign. Its bold furniture and color palette create a clear change in mood, while the retention of original floors, much of the woodwork and the restored bookshelves keeps the house connected to its earlier design.

It also makes a specific choice about cultural identity: rather than rely on decorative shorthand, the project draws on Mexican-made furniture and art by Mexican creatives. That approach is relevant to readers interested in how a home can feel contemporary and personal while acknowledging its location and architectural history. The report describes the design intent, but does not provide a budget, technical evaluation or a detailed account of how the owners use the home.

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A Modernist House in San Ángel

The house was designed in 1962 by Jaime Ortiz Monasterio, a mid-century architect, in San Ángel, a Mexico City neighborhood known for colonial architecture as well as modernist buildings. The source describes the property as an inherited home belonging to a young couple. It does not identify the owners by name.

Gutiérrez said the house had originally been conceived almost as a “library to live in,” but that little of this idea remained when he first saw it. The living room’s extensive bookshelves had been taken out before the couple’s renovation. Restoring them gave the project a reference point that was already part of the house’s design, rather than imposing a new historical theme, the architect said.

“They wanted to take away some of its seriousness and make it feel younger, fresher, and more reflective of who they are; a modern home that felt contemporary, playful, and full of color, while still respecting the original architecture.”

— Andrés Gutiérrez, architect and founder of A-G estudio, as quoted by Livingetc

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Project Details Not Reported

Livingetc’s account does not state when the renovation was completed, how long the work took or what it cost. It also does not give the owners’ names or explain whether preservation requirements, permits or other formal reviews shaped the work. The available information is based on the magazine’s report and the architect’s descriptions; it does not include an independent assessment of the renovation or the condition of the house before and after the work.

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No Further Project Milestone Given

The source presents the renovation as a completed project and does not identify a planned next phase, opening or follow-up announcement. The immediate next step for readers seeking more detail is the Livingetc feature, which includes project photography credited to Leandro Bulzzano. No additional construction or preservation work is confirmed in the report.

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Key Questions

Where is the renovated home?

It is in San Ángel, Mexico City, a neighborhood that includes colonial and modernist architecture.

Who designed the original house?

The house was designed in 1962 by architect Jaime Ortiz Monasterio, according to Livingetc.

What changed in the renovation?

Andrés Gutiérrez and A-G estudio refreshed the interiors with vivid colors, Mexican-made furniture and art by Mexican creatives. The team also restored the living room’s bookshelves and retained key original features, including the floors and much of the woodwork.

Did the project preserve the original architecture?

Gutiérrez said the team aimed to retain as much of the home’s original character as possible. The report describes selective work, including replacing some timber and renewing window frames and glass, alongside the restoration of the bookshelves.

What are the renovation cost and timeline?

The Livingetc report does not give a project budget, construction duration or completion date.

Source: rss

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