Mexican practice Espacio 18 Arquitectura has designed a concrete seafront home on Zapotengo beach in Oaxaca, with two wings oriented to follow the rising and setting of the sun.
Called La Casa del Sapo, or Toad’s House, the “timeless” minimalist design was created as a reflection on life’s necessities.
Bedrooms face the sunset and sunrise
The local practice was inspired by the small cabin that American writer and philosopher David Thoreau designed for himself in Massachusetts.
Arranged with a butterfly plan, the two blocks of the home comprise a bar-style kitchen and an en-suite bedroom facing sunrise to the east, and a large en-suite bedroom block facing the sunset to the west.
The concrete house overlooks Zapotengo beach
This layout creates a series of triangular patio spaces, with a large central terrace overlooking the sea to the south and two more intimate spaces to the north, divided and shaded by the eastern block’s high concrete wall.
“The spacing between [the blocks] shows the sea, the beauty of the Oaxaca coast, and creates flexible space for the one living in it, who will adapt in its own personal way,” said the practice.
The home is arranged in a butterfly shape with a kitchen and bedroom in one wing and a bedroom in the other
The south-facing patio is defined by a paving of herringbone terracotta bricks and is sheltered from the sun by a steel and branch canopy. Rough stone paving has been used to finish the shaded northern areas, which are dotted with cacti and trees.
These open spaces, including a swimming pool at the end of the southern patio, are intended not just for the owners of the home, but as areas for hosting friends and the local community.
“La Casa del Sapo is everyone’s house, it has become a gathering space…a family home, a shelter, and inclusive space; a safe space,” the practice said.
A folding wooden door lets the kitchen area open out onto the central patio, and large folding doors at the end of each block allow the interiors to be opened up to look out towards the sea.
A canopy made from steel and branches provides shade over the south-facing patio
The communal gathering spaces continue to the roof of the home, with a staircase on the eastern block leading up to a terracotta-tiled terrace looking out to sea and sheltered by a high parapet.
Both externally and internally, the building’s concrete structure has been left unfinished and exposed on all surfaces. It is complemented by concrete counters, shelving and concrete bases for the home’s beds.
Henry McDonald talks to sustainable architect, Daniel Jaconetti, about his work and how Europe compares to the USA when it comes to green building. Daniel's passion lies in biomimetic concepts and how technologies inspired by nature can create responsive environmental that coexist with their ecologies. His chat with Henry is a real eye-opener packed with excellent insights and information. "If I were looking to buy a new home right? I […]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Post comments (0)