© Rafael Gamo Located in the forested hills of Valle de Bravo, just 90 minutes from Mexico City, Hotel Avándaro has long been a landmark of Mexican modernist architecture. Initially designed in 1958 by Francisco Artigas and later modified in the 1990s by Arnold “Noldi” Schreck, the hotel has recently undergone a thoughtful renovation by the architectural firms Chain + Siman and modomanera. Completed in 2024, the project redefines the hotel’s spatial and material qualities through a contemporary lens, while honoring its historical foundations. With a total area of 3,000 m² (approx. 32,292 sq. ft.), the intervention explores sustainable strategies, adaptive reuse, and landscape integration—positioning Hotel Avándaro as a case study in context-sensitive, environmentally conscious design within the evolving landscape of Mexican architecture. Hotel Avándaro Technical Information Architects1-5: Chain + Siman and Modomanera Original Architect: Francisco Artigas Previous Renovation: Arnold “Noldi” Schreck (1990s) Location: Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico, Mexico Area: 3,000 m2 | 32,290 Sq. Ft. Renovation Completion Year: 2024 Original Construction: 1958 Photographs: © Rafael Gamo Our goal was not to reinvent Hotel Avándaro, but to reinterpret its historical layers through a contemporary lens—respecting the past while responding to today’s needs and the surrounding landscape. – Renatta Chain & Lina Siman, Chain + Siman / Patricio Galindo Chain & Natalia Zenteno Ortega, modomanera Hotel Avándaro Photographs © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo © Rafael Gamo Hotel Avándaro: History and Programmatic Evolution The original Hotel Avándaro was a product of mid-20th-century Mexican modernism. It was designed to respond to the climatic and topographical qualities of Valle de Bravo with low-sloped roofs, wood beams, and spatial openness. Over the decades, the building’s program evolved, hosting not only hotel guests but also convention-goers and golf club members. However, the accumulation of layers without a comprehensive rethinking led to confusion in circulation and use. The renovation clarified spatial hierarchies and defined distinct zones for each user type. Rather than creating isolated areas, the new scheme focuses on transitions—how spaces relate to one another, how public becomes semi-private, and how interior flows outward toward the landscape. This clarity is functional and spatially generous, reactivating the existing structure with a more legible organization. Architectural Strategy: A Contemporary Layer on Historic Ground A key challenge of the project was articulating a new architectural layer that respects the original identity without replicating it. The design team maintained key features—such as the characteristic sloped roofs—but adjusted their angle for a more refined profile. Similarly, exposed wooden beams, emblematic of the 1950s construction, were updated with a contemporary material expression and construction technique. Spatially, the intervention emphasizes porosity and orientation. The 81 suites are now aligned toward the golf course and forest, providing framed views and reinforcing the relationship between the built environment and its setting. New programmatic additions—including a convention center, restaurant, and boutique—are integrated within the volumetric composition through a shared formal and material language. Internal layouts privilege indirect light, framed views, and moments of openness that connect guests to the surrounding topography. The material strategy is both site-conscious and narratively cohesive. Locally sourced materials—stone, wood, and stucco—are combined in a restrained palette that favors texture over color and weight over ornament. These decisions lend the project a visual silence that aligns with the forested context, allowing the architecture to become a backdrop to experience rather than a focal object. Integration with Landscape and Urban Context At the scale of the master plan, the intervention is less about singular buildings and more about spatial relationships. Landscape architect Pedro Sánchez worked with the architectural team to develop interventions that extend the building’s presence into its terrain. These range from gentle grading adjustments to curated paths and plantings that mediate the transition between architecture and nature. Importantly, Valle de Bravo is both a natural and an urban condition—an escape for Mexico City residents and a functioning town with its own rhythms. Hotel Avándaro navigates this dual identity through its accessibility and programming: it is close enough to the city to attract corporate groups but embedded enough in the environment to offer disconnection and retreat. This tension is reflected in its spatial logic: framed vistas alternate between open communal areas and introspective private zones, allowing guests to modulate their engagement with the surrounding world. Sustainability, Heritage, and Local Impact Rather than demolish and rebuild, the architects prioritized restoration as a strategy for sustainability. This approach—reinforced by structural reuse (such as converting a dividing wall’s façade into structural support), energy-efficient systems, solar panels, and water collection—minimized the project’s carbon footprint. The design is not “green” superficially; instead, it demonstrates how adaptive reuse and modest technological additions can collectively advance environmental goals without dominating the architectural narrative. The renovation also extended beyond environmental impact to include regional development. Local labor and materials were employed throughout, reinforcing the project’s embeddedness in its socio-economic context. This approach reduces embodied carbon through minimized transportation and catalyzes the local economy through construction, operations, and design jobs. Hotel Avándaro Image Gallery About Chain + Siman Chain + Siman is a Mexico City–based architecture and interior design studio founded by Renatta Chain and Lina Siman. The firm is known for its refined approach to contemporary design, blending minimalism, material warmth, and contextual sensitivity. Their work spans residential, hospitality, and commercial projects, often emphasizing spatial clarity, local craftsmanship, and a strong connection between architecture and landscape. Credits and Additional Notes Master Plan & Architecture: Chain + Siman (Renatta Chain, Lina Siman); modomanera (Patricio Galindo Chain, Natalia Zenteno Ortega) Interior Design: Chain + Siman Landscape Design: Pedro Sánchez Energy and Environmental Solutions: PRÓXIMA Construction: TUCA