journal
Photography: Marcos Garcia
28 / 09 / 2021
Located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, this property is a piece of paradise.
Designed by RVOSTUDIO (led by Mexican architect Raul Velazquez) and owned by a Canadian who is a partner of design brand Herman Miller, the house is surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.
With three bedrooms and four bathrooms, Casa Sukha, which means happiness and joy in Sanskrit, was designed with natural and local materials to reflect the light and a high level of craftsmanship, giving tribute to the Mexican culture and landscape.
Influenced by the work of Le Corbusier (and in particular the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh), the brutalist architecture features the use of concrete throughout, which creates a timeless aesthetic, while many elements particularly adapted for the tropical climate of this area refers to the vernacular architecture of the Mexican coast. “We are interested in designing projects that represents the place where they are,” says Raul Velazquez.
Built on the side of a mountain, the house dialogues with the views and offers different visual experiences throughout the day and also at night. All the spaces highlight the connexion between inside and outside, and are an invitation to live alfresco. Every public area has its own covered terrace, which protects from both the sun and the rain.
For the architects, the material and color palette was inspired by the natural surroundings. “We tried to learn from nature”, they say. “Every earth tone has a ‘geological wisdom’ that we did our best to embellish.”
"Each one of the spaces was thought from within and from the feeling that it is supposed to give,” Velazquez says. “The corridors not only lead you from one area to the other, they also go through gardens, provide views and create an experience while you are moving.”
Elegantly furnished with comfort in mind, the house is adorned with artworks from a family collection and textiles from different regions of Mexico (including Oaxaca) and around the world. “This house is honest and respectful,” says the architect. “It truly belongs to a specific environment and culture.”
With three bedrooms and four bathrooms, Casa Sukha, which means happiness and joy in Sanskrit, was designed with natural and local materials to reflect the light and a high level of craftsmanship, giving tribute to the Mexican culture and landscape.
Influenced by the work of Le Corbusier (and in particular the Palace of Assembly in Chandigarh), the brutalist architecture features the use of concrete throughout, which creates a timeless aesthetic, while many elements particularly adapted for the tropical climate of this area refers to the vernacular architecture of the Mexican coast. “We are interested in designing projects that represents the place where they are,” says Raul Velazquez.
Built on the side of a mountain, the house dialogues with the views and offers different visual experiences throughout the day and also at night. All the spaces highlight the connexion between inside and outside, and are an invitation to live alfresco. Every public area has its own covered terrace, which protects from both the sun and the rain.
For the architects, the material and color palette was inspired by the natural surroundings. “We tried to learn from nature”, they say. “Every earth tone has a ‘geological wisdom’ that we did our best to embellish.”
"Each one of the spaces was thought from within and from the feeling that it is supposed to give,” Velazquez says. “The corridors not only lead you from one area to the other, they also go through gardens, provide views and create an experience while you are moving.”
Elegantly furnished with comfort in mind, the house is adorned with artworks from a family collection and textiles from different regions of Mexico (including Oaxaca) and around the world. “This house is honest and respectful,” says the architect. “It truly belongs to a specific environment and culture.”
For more information, visit RVOSTUDIO website.