Built in the 1950’s, home of the Margain Garciadiego family (Julio César, Ana María, Analuz and Jorge) Casa JuliAna is now a six-room guest house (Casa JuliAna Pensión) and a restaurant (Baldío) on the ground floor. It is located in the Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City. Jorge Margain, Founder and Managing Partner of Dragon Capital, led the development of the project which is the result of a collaboration between ANNEX, Arca Tierra, LOMAH, Savvy Studio, Pasquinel Studio and Tuetano.
Originally the childhood home of siblings Analuz and Jorge, its name is the result of a play of words between the names of Julio César and Ana María. The goal of the renovation process was to conserve original materials as much as possible and integrate key pieces from the Savvy Studio aesthetic.
Guest rooms are now open to book, and Arca Tierra the Xochimilco-based agroecologic initiative, is unveiling its first urban culinary concept mid-year. Rooted in the revival of pre-hispanic farming techniques, this venture will champion fair trade and cultural preservation.
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 that will share the values of authenticity, local flavor, sustainability, and Mexican culture. 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 and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint.
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.