Philosophy
Creating spaces that transcend their function to become experiences: restrained, sensitive and timeless architecture, where material, light and emptiness build a profound relationship between people and place.
History
The history of Zendejas Arquitectos begins long before its foundation. In San Luis Potosí, architecture and construction were part of everyday life for José Zendejas Hernández, born in 1958. The son of civil engineer Joaquín Zendejas Pérez, he encountered construction from an early age and saw how ideas become tangible spaces.
Through his father’s extensive construction experience throughout Mexico, José became familiar with building sites, construction processes and architecture’s material dimension. This early interest later found another defining influence in his godfather, Francisco Cossío, a key figure in modern architecture in San Luis Potosí.
Between these influences — construction seen through an engineer’s eyes and architecture through an architect’s — his own understanding of space took shape. Architecture could not be separated from its materials, its construction process or its relationship with the people who inhabit it.
José Zendejas Hernández studied architecture at the Facultad del Hábitat in San Luis Potosí. In 1997, he founded Zendejas Arquitectos. From its earliest projects, the practice established a dialogue between design, construction and context, working at different scales across housing, education, cultural buildings, offices and architectural interventions.
The studio has received awards and distinctions for Colegio de San Luis, Oficinas Rompope Coronado, the San Luis Potosí Convention Centre, Museo de la Máscara, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Colegio Harvest and Casa HA. In 2019, José Zendejas Hernández received the Distinguished Alumnus recognition from the Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí.
A second generation. A new perspective.
A new chapter began in 2012. José Zendejas Foyo, son of José Zendejas Hernández, completed his architecture studies at the Universidad del Valle de México, San Luis Potosí campus, and joined the family practice.
His arrival represented more than continuity: it brought together two generations shaped by different contexts. Decades of design, construction and local knowledge met a generation educated during a period of technological, cultural and conceptual change.
This encounter began a fusion of experience and new ideas. The practice incorporated new tools, design languages and approaches, evolving towards a contemporary vision while maintaining the foundations of its identity.
Tradition is understood as a starting point for evolution. The second generation expands the studio’s approach, bringing construction experience together with a contemporary sensitivity to space, materiality, technology and the experience of the user.
Architecture and art
Alongside his architectural practice, José Zendejas Foyo has developed a body of work in the visual arts, moving between painting, sculpture, material experimentation and performance.
This dual practice creates an ongoing dialogue. Architecture brings an awareness of space, scale, structure, material and movement to artistic work; art brings an intuitive and sensitive approach to perception, atmosphere, emptiness and experience.
This relationship explores where the two disciplines can enrich each other. Materials, textures, light, colour, proportion and space become common ground.
Architecture can thus be understood as the creation of spatial experiences. This artistic perspective preserves the construction rigour at the studio’s origins while incorporating research, experimentation and perception.
Continuity in evolution
Zendejas Arquitectos is at a moment of continuity and transformation. The story begun in 1997 continues through a second generation that brings new perspectives while remaining connected to its roots.
Two generations, two sets of experiences and two ways of seeing architecture converge in one practice. The first generation built experience. The second questions it, transforms it and projects it into the future.
The studio understands its evolution as a continuing conversation between past and present: architecture born from construction, developed through experience and opened to new possibilities through research, art and contemporary thought.
A story that began on the building site, found its language in architecture and continues to take shape over time.
Real estate development and investment
Bringing land, capital and architecture together to create projects with value.
As part of its evolution, Zendejas Arquitectos has established a strategic real estate development and investment practice led by Pablo Zendejas Foyo, Director of Strategic Development and Institutional Relations.
This area identifies and structures opportunities through partnerships between landowners, investors and the studio, bringing together capital, market knowledge, management and architecture.
The model transforms land and investment opportunities into functional projects with a clear identity, contributing from concept and structuring through development and project support.
We work on private residences, apartments, condominiums, mixed-use developments, urban developments and commercial projects, for both sale and rental.
The aim is to develop long-term partnerships that turn land and capital into high-value projects, combining architectural experience with a strategic understanding of business, investment and development.
Land + Capital + Architecture = Value
Practice
- Architectural design
- Construction documentation
- Construction
- Renovation projects
- Real estate investment
- Strategic planning