Behind the design of Soho House Mexico City

We’ll soon be arriving in the heart of Colonia Juárez to open the first-ever Latin American Soho House in Mexico City. As always, a new House comes with a lot of history, and our Mexican casa is rich in culture and heritage. It’s built in a former private residence previously owned by General Juan Prim, who commanded the Spanish expeditionary army in Mexico and was a sympathizer with the Mexican Liberal cause. The building speaks to traditional French influences and baroque architecture, while the interior is designed in a Mexican style with a modern Soho House touch. 

Carefully created with the help of many local artisans and designers, the casa has three bars (naturally one is a tequila bar), an underground vinyl listening room and an outside courtyard. The grounds surround an outdoor pool for those hot Mexican summers, and the House is filled with locally made custom furniture with plenty of plants. 

With so much to consider, we caught up with Danielle Vourlas, Director of Soho House Design for the Americas, and Yigit Kale, Soho House Principal Architect, to find out all about the design for the new Latin American club and what we can look forward to when it opens.

What can we expect to see at Soho House Mexico City?
‘The House is made up of three main buildings: the existing casa and annexe, and a new pool house with a bar and kitchen. The casa will feature a main bar, restaurant, club spaces and bedrooms. And in the annexe, you’ll find a tequila bar.’

What was the main challenge in terms of the design?
‘Preserving the historic character of the existing casa was significant for us. With our new additions, such as the pool house – which embraces the romanticism of European greenhouses – we wanted to work in harmony with existing buildings and create a beautiful narrative about a 19th-century mansion. The main challenge was to link the existing and new buildings seamlessly for our members’ experience, which we achieved by connecting all the support spaces underground.’

What original features in the building are remaining?
‘All of the historic details such as existing parquet flooring, door, window and ceiling trims, fireplaces, and frescoes. We have been through an extensive exercise of uncovering the existing wood elements that had layers of different finishes during different periods of ownership.’

Where did you get the inspiration for the House? 
‘We took a deconstructed approach to honouring the European origins of Casa Prim. We pared back its opulence, while still salvaging the most original finishes. Art also plays a big role in the identity of the club. Muralism, custom fabrics and unique local commissions will be found throughout space.’

Describe the design of Soho House Mexico City in a few words. 
‘Deconstructed, avant-garde, muralism.’

Which areas in the building are you most excited about? 
‘The Music Room, Library, and study rooms. They create a beautiful enfilade of club spaces finished in tri-colour plaster. Also, we may or may not have a secret room somewhere in the casa…’

How does the design reflect the culture of the city? 
‘We have a mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings surrounded with existing historic details, and an abundance of custom art pieces by artists who were born in Mexico or trained there. The diverse interplay among all of those elements mimics the cultural fabric of Mexico City.’

How was it designing a House in a new territory? 
‘We had to lean more on the local artisans for building our fixtures and millwork pieces, who do not necessarily work with the same processes we are accustomed to. We learned how to trust the process, and it resulted in some beautiful outcomes.’

Finally, how do you think members will feel in Soho House Mexico City? 
‘They’ll feel relaxed and refreshed at the pool house, and can enjoy the intimacy of the club spaces throughout the House.’

Apply for membership at Soho House Mexico City