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Stagioni House is part of a grouping of two houses that look like large stone frames for contemplating the forest from within warm and cozy interiors. It is located in Avándaro, Valle de Bravo, and is situated on nearly virgin terrain, with an aggressive topography due to its proximity to the slopes of Cerro Gordo. Both houses in this ensemble were designed to respectfully accommodate short and weekend stays among the trees and to generate the greatest added value of the property. Sixty percent of the land is occupied by green areas surrounding the buildings. All of the existing trees—eighteen specimens of Pinus oocarpa—were respected and served as a compositional premise, so the terraces were designed to incorporate them as a central element.
The main challenge in the construction was the topography, which necessitated a one-meter difference between the ground levels of the houses. Both are centered in the rear section of the property, set back twelve meters from the general access, to accentuate the sensation of immersion in the forest. A forceful stone frame girds each façade, unifying and providing the composition with horizontal cohesion. Another monumental frame borders the transition between the living and dining rooms while lowering the loads to the ground in a transverse direction. After mechanical studies determined that the soil is primarily comprised of tepetate, continuous footings were selected for the foundation and the floor plans were terraced to respect the orography of the terrain.
The palette used in the finishes echoes those found in the region, but in such a way as to create a luxurious ambience through the application of imported marble, basalt and wood, the firm’s signature style. The façades, covered with basalt and cumaru, a tropical wood from South America, have large, insulated glass spans that regulate the temperature and sound inside. The perimeter wall is made of recinto. The flooring on the ground level uses stone materials—domestic ivory cream marble and Thassos marble—in order to protect the house from damage caused by rainwater runoff, since the area lacks sewage; for this same reason, the houses have storm tanks installed. The wood ceiling and upstairs flooring craft a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Both houses are oriented on an east-west axis and feature two stories. On the first floor are the living and service areas, including the entrance, garden, living room, dining room, terrace, TV room, kitchen, half-bath and maid's quarters. In the living room, the wood from the kitchen doors extends like a carpet and frames the dining room in a warmth that delineates it without the need for walls. The staircase, with basalt treads and wood edges, is another key compositional element; hanging from the upper slab with turnbuckles, it becomes a permeable circulation, a harmonious transition between the elements of the program. The fireplace, also of basalt, is designed to accentuate the sense of spaciousness and its height—deliberately low—leaves a clear view from any point in the room.
Thus, through floor-to-ceiling openings, the vegetation adorns the backdrop of the entire room like a mural. Likewise, terraces of each house comprise the core spaces of the program. Both carefully surround a pair of original trees on the site. They constitute meeting spaces in coexistence with nature, or spaces for contemplative rest.
The furniture was designed by Esrawe, the dining table was designed in collaboration with Punto Griego, and they also incorporate works by the artist Aldo Chaparro.
Stagioni House give its occupants the sensation that they are surrounded by forest, with no distinction between inside and outside. It´s a modern, comfortable repository, full of personality, which allows its occupants to perceive the landscape from any point of the house. It also serves as a respite, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, to relax or gather with the family while seasons pass.
Established in Mexico City in 2020, BRAG Arquitectos was born after seven years of working together in the design and construction of projects. It is led by Santiago Morales Broc and Cristian Aguilar. Currently they have more than 40 projects, between built and under construction, most of them located in the central neighborhoods of the Valley of Mexico. For example, the Roma, Condesa, Del Valle and Narvarte neighborhoods, to mention a few.
They stand out mainly for the construction and development of multifamily housing, they use regulatory instruments as their main tool and develop creative solutions for the implementation of sustainable mechanisms in each project.
The practice of BRAG Arquitectos is not limited only to the residential field, as other types of projects such as cultural centers or public space are equally important in the development of a conscious city for the benefit of all its inhabitants.
