.jpg?1589245986 "Kaspé House / Zeller & Moye. Image © Dane Alonso")
The National Social Distancing Campaign (Jornada de Sana Distancia) in Mexico began on March 23, 2020. However, a couple of weeks earlier, despite the federal government's recommendation to continue normal activities, people on social media were already choosing to replicate the European model of self-isolation. Some architecture firms immediately decided to close their physical spaces and transition to remote work, while others took a few more weeks. Still, this period of social and physical (spatial) distancing is experienced differently in every household. The months of this pandemic have exposed not only inequality regarding basic needs in dense urban areas, but also the fragility of our social order. Whether at a macro or micro scale, all these experiences are shaped and influenced by the built environment, making architecture both a judge and a party to the equation.
At ArchDaily, we have been following projects, initiatives, and articles linking COVID-19 and architecture. We believe this pandemic can yield positive, concrete actions across various theoretical and practical lines of work—including housing, public space, and participatory processes—within the architectural field. Therefore, as part of a collaboration with Mexican architects Mariana Ríos and Leticia Lozano of MACIA ESTUDIO, we are launching the COVID-19 Reflections series. Dedicated to Mexican women architects, this series seeks to understand how architectural practice in Mexico has transformed in recent weeks and how personal reflections can translate into collective action to shape a new normal. In this edition, we share the insights of Ingrid Moye, co-founder of Zeller & Moye, an architectural studio operating with a global, interdisciplinary approach based in Mexico City and Berlin.
We would like you to tell us a bit about whether a work-from-home culture was encouraged in your office before social distancing. How difficult was the decision to physically close? And what tools and/or platforms do you use for work?
Ingrid Moye: Both partners (Christoph and I) are very used to remote work since we have an office in Berlin. Consequently, we have always traveled frequently and carried out projects in remote locations. To manage these projects, we have used various communication tools to bridge the distance with clients, consultants, specialists, suppliers, and collaborators. Since this was already our "normal" way of working, the current contingency hasn't brought significant changes.
At Zeller & Moye, we have been closely monitoring the global pandemic since its onset in China, which allowed us to implement gradual, timely measures. We decided to transition the entire team to remote work a week before the official announcement in Mexico, and we believe it was the right time. So far, remote working has gone quite well for us. We use Zoom a lot for meetings and stay very close to our team members every day. We have even noticed an improvement in efficiency by avoiding unnecessary commutes, and we are highly aware of the environmental benefits. We are even considering adopting some of these measures for the post-COVID-19 era.
How well did you know the team's commuting habits and family dynamics? Were special measures taken for those with children?
IM: Although most of the team has always been physically in the office full-time, we have maintained flexibility for staff members with children, those with families outside the city, or those seeking a different lifestyle. With proper organization and communication, this has worked well for us. Some of our team members used to spend more than two hours on public transit, which is common in this city. However, we see remote work during COVID-19 as a model we could continue to implement to improve quality of life.
How are you addressing collective trauma, and what measures are being taken within the work environment? How do you think the parameters of NOM-035 can be translated to working from home?
IM: Fortunately, our workflow hasn't slowed down, which helps everyone psychologically since we stay highly active. While social isolation could be seen as a crisis, I view it quite differently—as a much-needed period of reflection and introspection that can lead to positive change as human beings, as architects, and especially in our relationship with the environment.
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What is the current status of your active projects, and how do you plan to ensure their continuity? What work activities have you been unable to carry out? And in the event of canceled projects, what strategies are you using to continue generating income?
IM: Like many of our colleagues, some of the projects we were about to start have been put on hold; of course, we hope to resume them as soon as the situation improves. For now, we continue to develop our active projects quite smoothly, and we remain in close contact with our clients and teams through various channels. We have been able to dedicate more time to design aspects and questioning them, which is yielding great results.
We have several projects under construction that have been halted by government mandate. For these projects, we decided to use this pause to get ahead on technical and construction details that would otherwise have been resolved on-site. This is allowing us to focus more on aspects that will improve the projects and streamline their construction once work resumes. We feel stable and secure. Architectural practice is highly vulnerable to economic shifts, so it is essential to always be prepared to weather difficult financial times.
Of the workplace changes, what strategies do you think will be implemented permanently? And what personal reflections do you think will translate into the firm's daily practice?
IM: I believe that remaining flexible in how we work is important both now and always, so we can adapt to future changes of all kinds. The positive environmental impact of this pandemic is one of the most significant takeaways. We are now highly aware of how we can use technology to reduce unnecessary travel and commutes, lowering our carbon footprint while making our work more efficient.
Based on your personal domestic reflection, what is the architect's responsibility in addressing persistent issues in Mexican social housing, such as overcrowding, habitability, and housing quality?
IM: The pandemic has sent us all home, and hopefully, this will help society revalue the home as the heart of our community. I believe it is important to consider the concepts of flexibility, adaptability, and expansion in social housing design, making it adaptable to family changes and demands, which are particularly common in Mexico. But beyond housing adaptability, I believe in habitability; housing must be designed to welcome and foster the spiritual growth of its inhabitants. Social housing in Mexico is typically built with numbers and political strategies in mind, ignoring its most valuable purpose: providing shelter for the human being.
What changes have you experienced in your interpersonal relationships (family, friends, colleagues) that will be reflected socially and collectively?
IM: I see this period as an opportunity to dedicate quality time to my closest relationships, regardless of where they are. I believe not being physically together helps us listen and connect in a different way. For me, this has been a time of reduced social media use; I have opted instead for phone or video calls, which has strengthened many of my bonds. It is also an important time for solitude, which is essential.
What would be your contribution toward a paradigm shift in human-centered public space design (streets, sidewalks, plazas, parks, etc.)?
IM: As Walter Benjamin conceptualized: 'streets are the dwelling of the collective.' Just as we adapt our homes to our domestic needs, public space should also be adapted as an extension of the home itself. Specifically in Mexico City, it is crucial to shorten the long commutes of most Mexicans to reach their jobs, which can take up to three hours. These journeys are often exhausting and, of course, vectors for disease transmission. I believe it is essential to have more and better green lungs throughout the city. These should not only benefit the environment but also offer—free of commerce and entertainment—a physical and mental respite from the overwhelming city.
How are you working with the materiality of your projects now that we are working remotely? How has the relationship with suppliers been, and do you use online catalogs?
IM: We work with suppliers via email and video calls. We reference materials using photographs or images, and even physical samples shared via mail, keeping hygiene considerations in mind. For each project, we conduct specific material research, and each project has its own catalog. We do not seek to standardize solutions, as for us, materiality stems from the specific concept of each project.
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We invite you to check out ArchDaily's coverage of COVID-19, read our tips and articles on productivity while working from home, and discover technical recommendations for healthy design in your future projects. Also, remember to review the latest advice and information on COVID-19 on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.
This article was written by Mónica Arellano. The translation is powered by AI.
