Narvarte Terrace is a Tiny Quiet Getaway Among the Bustle of Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. With the population on the increase, many people are looking to unusual and unused areas as a potential housing solution.

One of the most solutions is to create a home on the rooftops of existing buildings. The owners of this project, dubbed Narvarte Terrace, employed this strategy when looking to create a guest house.

The project was taken on by a local architecture firm called PALMA. Completed in 2017, the result is a small 322.92-square-feet (30-square-meters) studio with independent access from the main home. The construction process was a delicate operation, with some of the existing walls being demolished to make way for new living spaces.

Narvarte Terrace has been envisioned as an open-to-the-air space. There are two main volumes: one housing the bedrooms and bathroom, and another containing the living room and kitchenette. The enclosed living spaces take up about half of the floor plan, with the remainder being taken up by a small garden and a dining area.

The rooms can be opened up to the rest of the rooftop through a series of sliding doors. A metal roof extends beyond the living spaces and into the garden, creating a sheltered patio. As from layout of studio, it’s material palette is composed of metal, wood, and brick. Some of the walls have been finished in a render to create a light, bright, atmosphere.

Rooms are furnished simply, with purpose built cabinetry made from plywood. It all adds up to a relaxing hideaway in the midst of the city – a rare feat among such buzzing environments.

For more small houses check out the Torn Paper House, an office and residential building that’s set on just 290-square-feet. Or, this project by Kaa Studio which saw the renovation of a dilapidated house into a weekend home. See all small houses.

Photos © Luis Young