Welcome to our gallery highlighting the absolutely stunning La Hidalga House, designed by Grupo Arquitectura.
This luxurious open design home is located on a forested mountain slope near Mexico City.
For the privileged site, it was decided to not tear down a single tree, forcing an innovative floor plan.
Because of the sloping terrain, access comes through the top level, via a wide, welcoming foyer. This foyer stands within a connecting structure that unites the two main volumes of the home.
The first volume is the main building, housing all public spaces, such as dining and living rooms, library, and bedrooms. Each of these spaces enjoys wide views of the garden. The second structure, aligned with the street, houses important utilities like the laundry room, storage, and service areas.
This pair of structures wraps a heavily inclined interior wooded courtyard, emphasizing the design’s adaptation to the topography. Structural elements were cut in specific spaces to make room for trees.
The natural characteristics of this site, including its slope, orientation, and forested atmosphere, are essential to the identity of the home. At the center is a clear staircase, exposed to the south, capturing sunlight and functioning as a passive radiator for the home.
The metallic structure allows for wide open spans and extended overhangs, with the interior partitioned by block walls sheathed in wood paneling and stone. The open design means that these walls stand free of the structural elements and the soaring ceiling above.
Materials consist of black granite and natural hardwood flooring, while the main walls are covered in travertine marble. Partitions in the private bedroom area are sheathed in wood paneling.
The overall effect of this home is a striking amalgamation of sharp edged modernism and natural landscape, a look that seems anchored to its space and outside of time.
Photography: Luis Gordoa
As seen from the backyard, the home is an open, glass-covered structure, welcoming and warm. The interior rooms appear detached from the outer shell.
Here’s a look inside the massive open space at the center of the home, with the rich marble walls seen at center. The full height windows spanning the structure allow in plenty of natural light and passive heat.
Before we explore the rest of the interior, we need to look at the dynamic exterior. Here we see one of many entrances, a subtle space mixed with trees and stones, contrasting with the rich wood paneling and steel structure.
The home utilizes the heavily sloped and forested landscape to its advantage, sinking into the space and becoming one with the environment.
The structure is surrounded by pockets of outdoor comfort, like this small patio backed against the hillside. The stone border fence acts as a visual anchor for the rich wood deck.
Running along the exterior glass panels, the main staircase is a warm burst of natural wood against the cool materials of the home structure.
Turning the opposite direction, we see the stairs continue down to the ground level, tucked beneath the actual soil line of the landscape. The open design of the staircase makes for open visual lines and a more expansive interior presence.
Here we see the massive staircase system from outside, wrapped in glass and crisscrossed by steel beams. The interior structure seems to float independently of the exterior shell.
Here we have a look at the vast open courtyard at the center of the home. This space is wrapped in manmade structures, but flush with native foliage that was carefully built around.
Moving back inside, here we see a smaller family room, anchored by stone flooring and rich wood shelving. The sleek modern furniture makes a nice light counterpoint to the heavy building elements.
This large primary bathroom doubles as a massive walk-in closet, with abundant storage space and countertop room. The free floating mirrors and vanities add to the buoyant atmosphere.
This lower level family room is wrapped in rich wood, from flooring on up. The black leather sectional makes for a more traditional setting than other areas of the home.
The primary bedroom is another warm space wrapped in rich wood paneling. This makes for an exceptionally cohesive look, contrasting with the lush nature outside, seen through full height windows.
Standing at the edge of the large open space, we see a massive bookshelf system in rich wood, towering in the two-story room.
The kitchen is full of sleek, glossy, high contrast materials like the black island and white cabinetry. The natural woods are kept to a minimum here, evoking a more modern look.
This smaller bathroom is flush with rich wood and marble, with a uniquely striking floating vanity in tempered glass. The integrated sink and frameless mirror emphasize the strong, modern aesthetic of the home.
Here’s another look at the grand living room space, awash in natural light and filled with multiple spaces to interact and socialize.
Finally, we leave you at the entry to the home, where a detached roof provides shelter and shade, plus a sense of privacy, as one enters the home itself.
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