Founded in 2002, Rojkind Arquitectos emerged from the career of Michel Rojkind, an architect who spent his early years as a drummer for the group Aleks Syntek y la Gente Normal. Born in Mexico City in 1969, he later transitioned from the music scene to architectural design, focusing on projects that leverage local manufacturing techniques.
Formative Years and Education
Michel Rojkind spent part of his childhood in The Bronx and Scarsdale, New York, while his father, Marcos Rojkind Matlyuk, taught at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He returned to Mexico City to study architecture and urban planning at the Ibero-American University from 1989 until 1994. Beyond his architectural studies, Rojkind developed skills as a painter and musician, experiences that inform his multidisciplinary approach to design.
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After establishing his firm, Rojkind moved to integrate complex geometric forms with the realities of local construction capabilities. His early works include Casa F2 in Atizapan de Zaragoza and Casa pR34 in Tecamachalco. The firm gained significant attention in 2005 when Architectural Record named it one of the ten firms in its Design Vanguard. His portfolio subsequently expanded to include major commercial and cultural projects, such as the Nestlé Chocolate Museum in Toluca and the Tori Tori restaurant in Polanco.
Urban Research and Academia
In 2004, Rojkind co-founded the MXDF Urban Research Center alongside Arturo Ortiz Struck, Derek Dellekamp, and Tatiana Bilbao. This non-profit entity investigates the social and environmental dynamics of urban space in Mexico. Beyond practice, he has held visiting professorships at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles and the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona, while frequently serving as a juror for international design competitions.
Global Recognition
Rojkind’s work has earned diverse international accolades, including the 2008 International Architecture Award for the Nestlé Chocolate Museum. His influence within the field has been noted by publications such as Wallpaper* magazine, which listed him among its 150 movers and shakers in 2011, and Forbes, which recognized him as one of the most influential architects in the contemporary Mexican scene in 2013. He has also shared his design methodology at TEDx and the World Architecture Festival.
Fast facts
- Born: 18 December 1969, Mexico City
- Education: Ibero-American University (1989-1994)
- Firm founded: 2002
- Occupations: Architect, drummer, painter
- Key work: Nestlé Chocolate Museum (2007)
- Notable honor: Emerging Voices, Architectural League of New York (2010)
- Language: Spanish
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Rojkind Arquitectos?
The firm focuses on translating complex ideas into built realities that utilize local manufacturing skills.
Has Michel Rojkind worked outside of Mexico?
He has been short-listed for international projects in Canada, Kuwait, China, Dubai, Singapore, and Spain.
Achievements
- Trained at Ibero-American University
