Welcome to Casa JuliAna Pension, Condesa CDMX: a six-room guest house and restaurant created by Rafael Prieto of Savvy Studio, Arca Tierra, and the Margain Family. Originally the childhood home of siblings Analuz and Jorge, this guest house offers a unique way to stay, eat, and drink, preserving original materials and integrating key pieces of the Savvy Studio aesthetic.
Sustainability is a key aspect of Casa JuliAna. The project includes solar panels and a rainwater system, which are significant investments in Mexico City and set it apart from competitors. These sustainable features align with the Baldío narrative and resonate strongly with the target market, which is very sensitive to environmental issues.
Arca Tierra, the Xochimilco-based agroecologic initiative, has opened Baldío in collaboration with Silo Londres on the ground floor. Baldío, Mexico’s first zero-waste restaurant, embraces sustainable agricultural practices and zero-waste principles. This innovative project aims to revolutionize food and sustainability, making a bold statement about nurturing the planet.
Central to Baldío is its partnership with Arca Tierra, a network of farmers dedicated to regenerative agriculture. Arca Tierra promotes sustainable farming, enriching soil, conserving water, and supporting biodiversity. Their work with the chinampas of Xochimilco, ancient artificial islands and a UNESCO World Heritage site, provides Baldío with fresh, locally sourced produce, linking the restaurant to Mexico’s agricultural heritage.
COLLABORATORS
Casa JuliAna is a real estate project that transforms a family home into a guest house and a restaurant. The house was built in the 1950s and belonged to Julio César Margain and Ana María Garciadiego, who were a physicist and a philosopher, respectively. They had two children, Analuz and Jorge, and four granddaughters. The house was full of books, pets, and classical music. It also hosted a traditional Christmas almond candy production for seven years. Julio César and Ana María passed away in 2021, leaving their legacy to their descendants.
The goal of the project is to create a multigenerational asset for the Margain family and to preserve the original architecture, design, and personality of the house. The ground floor is leased by a joint venture between Arca Tierra and Grupo Tuetano, who will open a farm-to-table restaurant Baldio that will share the values of authenticity, local flavor, sustainability, and Mexican culture. Baldio is committed to agroecological processes, zero waste, and the visibility of local farmers, making it a beacon of sustainability in the restaurant industry . Additionally, Baldio is partnered with Silo London, the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, known for its innovative approach to sustainability and closed-loop cooking.
The first and second floors have six short-term rental units, some of which were the original bedrooms of the family. The rooftop will have a small outdoor living room with a view of the Reforma skyline.issues.
The project started in March 2023 and follows the zoning rules of the Mexico City government, which promotes the active lifestyle of the neighborhoods and the strengthening of the local communities. Casa JuliAna is more than a real estate project; it is a tribute to a family’s history and a vision for a better future.