Mariel Lozano Studio designs debut San Luis Stays apartment in Mexico City

Mexico City practice Mariel Lozano Studio has fitted out a 50-square-metre one-bedroom apartment in Roma Norte. The Lozano team designed the interiors and several pieces of custom teak furniture for the unit.

The project, San Luis Stays, is the debut property in a new rental programme from the music and design firm Mad Monk Studios, which plans additional residences under the Stays brand.

What does the brief ask of the design?

The studio was asked to convert a builder-grade shell inside a newly constructed building. The initial interior suffered from finishes the designers describe as a problem to solve.

"The initial interior suffered from an overwhelming combination of builder-grade finishes, requiring a conceptual reset to create a harmonious, high-end guest experience," the team said.

Lozano responded by wrapping portions of the exposed concrete walls in teak panelling. The same wood was used for multiple pieces of custom furniture, all fabricated on site.

How does the layout manage a small footprint?

Custom fixed furniture drives the spatial strategy across the 50-square-metre plan, and the studio embedded storage, seating and a dining surface directly into the walls. A built-in L-shaped sofa and a wall-mounted television cabinet occupy the living room.

In the dining area, a table extends from a shelving unit. Both rooms open onto a small balcony.

"To optimise the compact layout, custom-designed fixed furniture was prioritized to hide clutter and maintain a tranquil feel," the team said.

"Key elements, such as a custom bed frame featuring concealed luggage storage, keep the visual space clear, allowing guests to experience stillness inside the apartment."

Where does sound enter the room?

A bed headboard runs the full length of the bedroom wall. The piece conceals an integrated sound system, a feature the team tied directly to the operator's identity.

"Because Mad Monk Studios is fundamentally a music studio, sound is an essential part of the hospitality concept," the team said. Curated playlists by Mad Monk Studios accompany each stay.

A slatted teak partition slides open and closed between the bedroom and the living area.

What does the kitchen and lighting add?

The kitchen breaks the wood-led palette with white cabinetry, square backsplash tiles, black countertops and stainless steel appliances, set on grey floor tiles distinct from the oak flooring elsewhere.

The contrast is deliberate, the designers noted. "Subtle pops of colour were added through specific curated objects to make the space feel vibrant," the team said.

Lighting choices sit between design classic and contemporary. A Nelson Ball Bubble Pendant by Herman Miller hangs above the dining table. A semi-cylindrical sconce lights the sofa. A pair of burgundy Flowerpot VP1 Pendants by Verner Panton flank the bed.

Accessories include a vintage stackable ashtray by Isamu Kenmochi and drinking glasses by En La Superficie.

What does this change for boutique stays in the capital?

San Luis joins a growing roster of small-format Mexico City properties. The list includes Hotel San Fernando in Condesa, Lamartine in Polanco and the Shaker-inspired Círculo Mexicano.

As Mad Monk Studios extends Stays to additional residences, the San Luis apartment will serve as the working template. Future units will test whether Lozano's hidden-storage approach and sound-integrated millwork translate at scale.