Welcome to our gallery featuring the TDA project by Cadaval & Sola-Morales!
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Located in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico this striking home is built to offer comfort and stylish living while providing shelter and withstanding the frequent earthquakes in the area.
The decision to build the house with concrete was made based on three factors: high temperatures, buildup of saltpeter in the area that can damage structures, and an unskilled labor force.
Concrete also offered a unique opportunity to test the structural capabilities of the material’s resistance to extreme conditions. It stays cool in the warm, dry climate of the region and, it was noted in the initial design, structures such as bridges and breakwaters are constructed of concrete because of its tectonic capabilities
Cantilevers, the protruding additions to the main structure, generally supported by one end, were chosen as an extreme test of this integrity. One that has thus far proven successful.
The designers also wanted to offer uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape, Pacific ocean, and the town of Puerto Escondido. The upper terrace was built as a tribute to the sea, reminiscent of a lighthouse or watch tower, and to give the residents somewhere quiet to relax.
Despite the cold, rigid structure of the concrete the aim of the project was to create a sort of living portrait of the vital Mexican community; a world of vivid color, harmony, and nature – which has been successfully achieved in the design of the interior.
The hammocks, a seemingly random addition to the design, is pivotal in displaying the pleasure of idleness and relaxation that is a center point to Mexican culture.
All-in-all this design is a fascinating design coup. It offers the modern luxuries and comforts expected while maintaining a simplistic and minimal design to better showcase the lush tropical environment it finds itself in.
Please enjoy the rest of this gallery.
Photography: © Santiago Garcés
Here is a street view of the house, the exclusion of a traditional front door is due to the decision to construct the house out of concrete. Cutting a hole for a door would have been a compromise of tectonic support. This also forces any guests to the house to walk around the side to the back and get a full view of the structure and surrounding tropical vegetation.
The cantilever – a rigid structure anchored at only one end to a (usually vertical) support from which it is protruding – was built to take the structural and tectonic abilities of the concrete to the limit. The space beneath the large cantilever is the most important space of the house, displaying the custom interior design and how to blends with the outdoors.
The contrast of the lush vegetation against the neutral concrete allows the plants to showcase, providing most of the color and life to the house. Here you can see the two bedrooms on the first floor.
In case of bad weather the entire house can be shuttered off from the outside, protecting the interior and its inhabitants from the elements.
The interior of the house is brightened with bold splashes of red and natural wood accents. The compact kitchen can be seen against the back wall. This simple palette allows for the color and life of the outdoors to stand out.
The second floor houses a small, comfortable siting area with floating stairs leading up to the sleeping area and upper terrace. The walkway against the far wall leads to two bedrooms at the front of the cantilever. The raw concrete walls add a subtle pattern and texture to the walls.
One of the two bedrooms in the cantilever. Both bedrooms look out over the pool and backyard, allowing for a stunning view of the surrounding city.
The upper terrace, in the vertical cantilever, makes for a great place to sit and relax while enjoying a warm breeze and taking in the view. Bright red hammocks carry the color throughout the house.
Near the ocean, the house at night is quite a sight to see. The unique shape and structure is both similar to the surrounding houses and vastly different in its modern design.
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(c) 2015
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