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Nestled in the serene community of Santa María del Oro, Nayarit, lies this architectural gem, a weekend home that discreetly merges into the landscape, respecting its delicate ecosystem and the local community. The project's origin stems from a deep respect for five ancestral trees that stand as guardians of the site. Circular shapes are subtracted from the volume to honor their presence, allowing these giants to intertwine with the dwelling. This design ethic is a tribute to the environment and the local community, where construction harmonizes with nature.
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The challenges presented by this site were formidable. The steep slope, modest facade, and tight budget required innovative solutions. Additionally, the fragile ecosystem of the lake, born from a volcano, demands an approach that minimizes environmental impact. Thus, every aspect of the work and operation was meticulously planned to leave a light footprint on the land. The reality of the municipality of Santa María del Oro, isolated and with limited resources, forced us to innovate while respectfully engaging with the local community. We did not seek to cross or impose limits, but to impart a new design ethic aligned with the capabilities of its inhabitants and thus enrich their perspectives.
The reduced use of concrete and masonry with local stones makes construction and preservation of the project sustainable due to materials with low installation impact on site and high durability over time. The proposal incorporates rainwater collection and filtration measures to conserve and separate black water from rainwater. These are passed through a biodigester with a series of filters and then to an absorption well that generates oxygenation, preventing lake contamination. Low-energy consumption equipment and LED lighting are integrated, while a green roof camouflages the structure in the environment and insulates against high temperatures, adopting a passive cooling approach.
The house program is simple: three bedrooms, a central social space, and an expansive terrace with a circular pool. Here, occupants can immerse themselves in the beauty of the surroundings, becoming part of the swaying of the trees with the wind and enjoying the various views of the lake. Access to the house is through a 20-meter staircase intricately designed to blend with the site, divert rainwater through the permeability generated by the spacing of the pieces, and serve as a sculptural statement with prefabricated cylindrical concrete steps. The volume of the house is completely hidden, lost in the slope of the land and leaving only the terraces visible, which coexist with native trees and open to the lake. With this project constraint, the natural lighting and cross ventilation of the house are achieved by taking advantage of the location of the trees to generate interior courtyards that illuminate both common areas and rooms, taking advantage of the region's good climate. The brown and beige colors used are based on the earthy tones found in the landscapes of Nayarit, creating finishes on walls of various aesthetics that celebrate Mexican heritage and at the same time modernity. For the furniture, materials such as volcanic stone (which is reminiscent and found in the geothermal area where the project is located), as well as new and recycled woods from the formwork used during the work, were used.
In conclusion, this architectural effort transcends mere construction. It exemplifies a harmonious coexistence between nature, community, and design innovation. It serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, sustainability, and cultural fusion in creating spaces that protect, inspire, and elevate the human experience.
We are a global and international collaborative firm led by Mauricio Ceballos. He, alongside FR-EE and Foster + Partners, directed the New Airport in Mexico City (NAIM), the most ambitious infrastructure project for Mexico in the past 50 years. Under the philosophy that good design is not a product of masterminds, but rather from well-integrated teams, systematic process, excellent communication, and the same values, we envision good design as workflow between clients, groups, and specialists.
