Mirror, Mirror: Distrito Capital

Stephen Treffinger -- Interior Design, 6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Grupo Habita hotels always get the balance right: intimate and self-contained for guests but also magnets attracting local trendinistas for a drink. The group's eighth property, Distrito Capital, is in the unlikely location of Mexico City's Santa Fe business district, land of skyscrapers and the country's largest shopping mall. This wouldn't, however, be the first time a Habita-managed project has braved a new neighborhood. The charming Condesa DF was an early arrival to what is now hip central. Nor was Distrito Capital a first for Joseph Dirand Architecture, which completed Habita's Monterrey hotel last year, but owner-developer and building architect Diametro Arquitectos hadn't worked with Habita before.

With 17 standard guest rooms and 13 suites as well as a restaurant, bar, library, pool, gym, and terrace, Distrito Capital occupies the fifth floor as well as floors 25 to 28 of the glass tower. The interiors read like film sets with a futuristic feel. "I was influenced by the Modernisme period, which was rather important in Mexico City in the 1960's, and also by the Jacques Tati movie Playtime," Joseph Dirand says.

Almost everything is executed in a silver-screen palette of medium grays and liberal amounts of white, plus a few black accents. In supporting roles, vintage objects, such as a sign salvaged from an old movie theater, provide jolts of color. But the real stars are the lighting and furniture by masters from Alvar Aalto to Hans Wegner. Even the restaurant's John Pawson flatware is perfectly cast.

Photography by Adrien Dirand/Distrito Capital and Undine Prohl/Distrito Capital. 

FROM FRONT THROUGH JOUSSE ENTREPRISE: STOOLS (ENTRY). CARL HANSEN & SØN: TABLES (RECEPTION). THROUGH EBAY: CHAIRS. ARTEK: PENDANT FIXTURES. THROUGH LA GALERIE MODERNE: SCONCES. FRITZ HANSEN: BENCH. THROUGH CHIC BY ACCIDENT: SIGN, TABLE, MAGAZINE RACK (SUITE). DOMINIQUE KIEFFER: SOFA FABRIC (SUITE), BANQUETTE FABRIC (RECEPTION). DORNBRACHT: SHOWER FITTINGS, TUB FITTINGS, SINK FITTINGS (BATHROOM). VITRA: GRAY CHAIR (SUITE).