Viviane wanted a house with an extensive program to enjoy her weekends in a small town just outside of the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. When we first met her, she described her vision for an ideal weekend retreat, accompanied by a lot of interesting and detailed stories. At the end of our conversation, she told us the amount of money she had for it.
The scope of the project, as described, surpassed by far the possibilities of the budget. For us, this presented the key challenge: How could we bring Viviane's dream house to life while adhering to her budgetary constraints without compromising any of her ideas?
Our initial task involved identifying a flexible material that could allow us to maximize the use of square meters. The only viable solution, as it turned out, was right on the site—earth. We endeavored on extensive research to understand the potential of this material. Subsequently, we made an architectural composition that made use of the earth not to its extreme, but in its optimal condition. This strategic approach allowed us to make the most of its efficiency and accomplish more than initially expected.
The choice of earth as a building material offered numerous advantages. First and foremost, it is a versatile material capable of fulfilling various structural, thermal insulation, and aesthetic requirements on its own. Additionally, it promised long-term sustainability, with regular and easy maintenance ensuring its endurance for many hundreds of years.
For the composition, we employed four cubes: two aligned with the lakeshore and two rotated at 45 degrees. Those aligned with the lakeshore housed programmatic functions, while the intersecting, rotated cubes accommodated circulation spaces. This design created a dynamic flow through the spaces, where each room retained its individuality while contributing to a harmonious collective ensemble—a reflection of the contemporary family's multifaceted lifestyle.
Given the family's significant contemporary art collection, we collaborated closely with them and the artists to integrate some of the fixed features into the house, such as the dining table and bathrooms, enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality of the space.
