# Irregular Concrete Facades The Amsterdam 169 Building in Mexico Has an Unusual Surface By Jamie Danielle Munro | Published 2014-07-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amsterdam-169 References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/architecture/amsterdam-169-apartments-jsa-mexico-city-07-10-2014/) & [jsa.mx](http://jsa.com.mx/) While the outside of the Amsterdam 169 building in Mexico by JSa Architecture firm is clad in concrete, the inside consists of a contrasting [wood material](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omer-arbel). Moreover, the openings on the outside don't necessarily mean that there is a window in this area. Instead, the [concrete outside](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lamat-house) and openings add another layer to the building (and hopefully provide some relief from the heat). Most [apartment buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bergen-building) have openings or transparent sections for the various units, but JSa architecture studio decided to go against this traditional method. However, it works well with the overall look of the building, and challenges how apartments should be put together. Even though the openings are irregular, there are no problems with the amount of sunlight that comes through, which is beneficial for those living in the Amsterdam 169 building. Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/architecture/amsterdam-169-apartments-jsa-mexico-city-07-10-2014/), [jsa.mx](http://jsa.com.mx/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 31% | Activity: 29% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Contrasting Materials:** The use of contrasting materials like concrete and wood opens up opportunities for innovative architectural designs. - **Irregular Openings:** Challenging the traditional method of apartment buildings with irregular openings creates new possibilities for unique and visually striking structures. - **Optimized Sunlight:** Designing irregular openings that allow natural sunlight without compromising privacy demonstrates the potential for smart and environmentally friendly architecture. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Architecture:** Architecture firms can explore the use of contrasting materials and irregular openings to create disruptive and eye-catching building designs. - **Construction:** The construction industry can embrace the trend of irregular openings to offer innovative solutions for residential and commercial buildings. - **Sustainable Design:** The trend of optimized sunlight through irregular openings presents opportunities for sustainable design practices in the architecture and construction industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Triangular Concrete Apartment Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mo288.md) - [Minimalist Concrete Complexes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/residential-project-in-tokyo.md) - [Raw Concrete Industrial Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-nishizaki.md) - [Interior Courtyard Mexican Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-ll.md) - [Green Concrete Community Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studios-workac-and-ignacio-urquiza-architects.md) - [High Concrete Walled Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cesar-mancillas.md) - [Housing Block Defensive Facades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bureau-des-mesarchitecture.md) - [Pyramidal Concrete Japanese Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pyramid-hut.md) - [Pixelated Illusion Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/van-b.md)