Casa Kaspé in Mexico City by Zeller & Moye

Based across both Mexico City and Berlin, architectural studio Zeller & Moye applied a functional and minimalist treatment to Casa Kaspé, a two-storey 250sqm apartment in Mexico City. All elements that weren’t unequivocally necessary were stripped away such as dividing walls, false ceilings and decorative elements, turning attention to unique custom joinery and clean, crisp lines.

Russian architect Vladimir Kaspé initially built the apartment block in the ‘60s, and Zeller & Moye aimed to restore the modernist spirit of the original design whilst implementing contemporary additions. A spiral staircase joins the two floors, maintaining a continuous spatial character courtesy of large, open spaces. Curved walls serve to separate and connect various rooms by creating slender passageways between the kitchen and living room, bedroom and bathroom.

The defining element of both upper and lower floors is an ‘accessible wall’ that spans the entire 17-meter depth of the space, comprised of overlapping timber doors that conceal miscellaneous shelving, kitchen and bathroom amenities, and wardrobes.

Beyond the timber shelves, surfaces are even and white with frameless doors barely discernible set flush with the interior facades. Square parquetry reinforces the apartment’s mid-century origins, while surprise elements such as coral coloured bathroom walls retain a playful and contemporary feel.

Zeller & Moye custom-designed various built-in and freestanding furniture and décor elements for Casa Kaspé, including a 4m dining table with a chunky retro silhouette and glossy piano lacquer finish. Other made-to-measure pieces include a natural timber table for the study, and brass suspension lights.