House C | Cherem Arquitectos

Twelve volumes built with rammed earth were conceived in the outskirts of the city in Mexico’s central highlands. The residence consist of a dozen flat roofed buildings and three main courtyards with the intention to create a contemporary Mexican Hacienda, whose volumes are separated between courtyards and lush gardens.

Conceptually one of the most important decisions was to create a strong contrast between the massiveness of the black boxes and the natural light that enters to the spaces through the roof by zenithal lighting conceived in different ways in every block that conform the project.

A major virtue of the proposal was to choose to utilise the site’s natural soil and resources, also for its insulating properties. House
C walls are 50 centimeters wide and mixed with natural mineral aggregates that pigment the soil black, this to achieve spaces that during the day stay fresh and at night preserve the thermal gain they achieve along the day and radiate it into the interior, in order to create warm spaces.

The volumes of the residence are built in three rows in which non of them touches between each other, but a pair of corridors sew them creating a series of patios and gardens between them. In total, the 12 volumes amass 1,115 square meters.

The main idea for the patios was to divide the program into public, semi private and private spaces. A swimming pool and jacuzzi are at the centre of the first patio surrounded by the main living areas including the access, the kitchen, dinning and two living and lounge rooms. Four bedroom blocks are on the other side of the property creating a central patio. And the third patio is conformed by the master bedroom and the living room.

Materials and key design elements for this project were concrete tile and wood floors, pivoting glass doors with wood shutters, archeological stone floors for the exterior corridors and blacksmithing windows and railings.