Casa de la Abuela | Chain + Siman

Nestled within reach of Lake Valle de Bravo, La Casa de la Abuela is a year-round retreat that draws inspiration from the peaceful setting that surrounds it to create a warm, elegant home. The name translates to “Grandma’s House”, for this residence is a pivoting point for a multi-generational close knitted family.

Valle de Bravo is often used as a weekend getaway destination for people who live in Mexico City; close enough to drive, yet not so close that you take the accelerated life of the concrete jungle with you.  

This project was intended to sprout from the environment that surrounds it as just that: a huge contrast from the agitated pace the clients lived in. While the house would be permanently inhabited, it was also expected to become a pivoting point for a multi-generational close knitted family, which would mean it no longer was just a house: the space was immediately thought of as the nucleus of coexistence.

Our priority was to create wide, double-height spaces that would accentuate the connection with the exterior through views of the lake. The house was intentionally oriented towards the west so that the sunset could be enjoyed from both the master bedroom and the terrace.
It was necessary to carry out a soil compaction process, due to the site being so close to the lake. To obtain the desired spans and achieve a solid grip on such loose grounds, we chose a monolithic reinforced concrete structure for the entire project.

The exterior walls of the three volumes are covered with white handcrafted brick that was produced in the State of Mexico, and whose measurements served as the basis for the design's proportion. Two of the volumes, set parallel to each other, bear gabled roofs with flat black tiles. In the interior, Austrian-engineered wood overlays the floors, walls, and ceilings.

This project was designed with the dynamics of a master suite in mind: everything revolves around the main bedroom. The interconnected rooms allow the client to pass through several spaces with just a few steps. In order to create the same architectural language throughout the project, we maximized the wooden aesthetic.

The living room appears as an open, communal space, flanked by a master bedroom on one side, the family room on the other, and an open terrace with a Jacuzzi at the rear of the house which serves as a stage for enjoying the connection with the exterior. A motorized louvered canopy with its own drainage system was placed on the deck to allow sun light into the rooms while providing coverage against the rain when needed. At the front of the house, the family room also features its own terrace and access to the mezzanine room, which doubles as a spare bedroom with a set of sliding doors.

The house is almost surrounded by vegetation, creating a visual boundary that extends the perception of space while providing privacy. The green, open spaces mixed with the fresh air of the lake create a perfectly balanced ambience of relaxation.

As a result of a mix between the client’s input and our design studio, we took the most advantage of the site’s materials to create spaces with a contemporary interior design through a scenographical use of light and color, a warm and cozy atmosphere and an atemporal scene that aims to invite exploration and discovery of the easy-going flow of the rooms in a place that will stand for generations.

Special attention was given to the lighting design. We approached its conceptualization as though the project were a museum in which we did not know where the illuminated elements would be placed. Solar panels were placed on the roof in order to reduce energy consumption.

The resulting composition gives the impression of a nearly stage-like space, producing a blend of functional and accent lighting. The diffused light among the three main rooms helps accentuate the warm tones of the wood and creating a cozy and inviting ambience.
The project was designed to be completed over a period of ten months. Due to the pandemic, this had to be adjusted; however, the project was completed in eleven months.