A desert house designed for water

This off-the-grid retreat  located in the mountains south of Valle Bravo, approximately two hours west of Mexico City, is strategically sited to provide views towards the 16,500-foot-high Volcan Toluca Mountain. Situated in a nature reserve, a key objective was to create a structure that could operate off the grid through a solar PV array and an on-site water treatment and storage system, working in tandem with the local climate where summers are wet and rainy, and winters extremely dry. 

The residence is conceived as a pavilion that allows for outdoor use year round. A raised concrete plinth clad with local recinto volcanic stone serves as a platform for interior and exterior spaces, while a hovering planted roof is supported by a perimeter colonnade of steel columns. Two-thirds of the pavilion is dedicated to covered outdoor space, allowing all sides of the home to breathe and remain open to the elements in the temperate climate. A detached bathhouse and studio complete the retreat’s ensemble of structures.

Project Collaboration between Robert Hutchison Architecture & JSa
Project Team: Robert Hutchison & Javier Sanchez, Sean Morgan, Berenice Solis
Temascaltepec, Mexico, Completed October 2020
Structural Engineer: Bykonen Carter Quinn
General Contractor: Mic Mac Estructuras
Photography: Cesar Bejar, Benedikt Fahlbusch, Alberto Kritzler, Laia Rius Solá