MEXICO WEEKEND HOUSE || Casa La Quinta
It's a window to the sky.
Casa La Quinta by Alfonso de la Concha Rojas, PPAA Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados, was given a very narrow space surrounded by existing, high walls on all sides. This meant that horizontally, there would be no views available for the lot, but what appeared to be a constraint turned out to be a source of inspiration.
Instead of thinking of horizontal views, the architect team looked to expand the 'space' vertically, utilizing water and the sky to create a sense of spaciousness.
The home was built for a couple looking for a home just outside of Mexico City, a haven where they could comfortably retire for years to come. The structure, materials, and layout was designed with this in mind, creating a living space where one can enjoy silence without knowledge of the passing time.
The entire home is structured with load bearing walls connected by a series of slabs reinforced by wood beams on the roof as a typical construction method typical of San Miguel de Allende. All the walls are covered with a product called 'corov' that resembles natural stucco, giving not only a natural and artisanal look and feel to the walls.
Note that the walls on the interior are the same as the exterior, another medium the team used to create continuity in the space. Within the lot, the team envisioned three 'voids' that are connected through a series of patios, each a peaceful recluse for residents to unwind.
Each of the public spaces, the living and dining room and the kitchen, all look into the patio space, with its window facing the sky, drawing in ample sunlight. Imagine if the architects had followed a traditional method and built windows with horizontal sight lines, the views would be looking into the walls of other neighbouring buildings!
The only way to tell time in these oasis-like gardens is by the length of the shadows on the wall. What a wonderful yet simple way to live, especially for a couple looking to retire in this home.
The stones used for the floors are the same ones used in most of the old streets of San Miguel, just thoughtfully cut and put together in a different way.
The wooden beams fit in harmoniously with the kitchen design, where minimalist earthy cabinets line the length of the wall.
One the ground floor there is a master bedroom with its own private patio, allowing for separation and privacy from the public gathering space connected to the kitchen and living room area.
Stairs in the kitchen lead up to the second floor, where an elongated corridor connects guest bedrooms. The space is designed so that guests can easily peer over into the living room area, so the upstairs is an extension of the social spaces below.
With the Casa La Quinta project, the team embraced the multiple, supposed restrictions on their creativity - the narrow plot and high surrounding walls, and built a home that merges in elegantly with the community, with their reinterpretation of colonial architecture that will allow their design to age with dignity.
Photos courtesy of: Alfonso de la Concha Rojas, PPAA Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados
Photographs By: Rafael Gamo
