Tropical plants surround a holiday home by Mexican firm CO-LAB Design Office, which has large openings to help keep the interior "cool and fresh throughout the year". The property is bordered by a rustic wall made of stones that were excavated during construction.
Located in the Mexican beach town of Tulum, Casa Areca was carefully positioned on its long, narrow site, to preserve the existing vegetation, including a number of areca palm plants.
Casa Areca is surrounded by luscious vegetation
Designed and built by local firm CO-LAB Design Office, the house is meant to serve as a tranquil retreat that embraces its tropical setting.
"Light, breezy rooms frame the surrounding greenery while moving shadows decorate the walls, creating a peaceful atmosphere optimal for unwinding after a beach day," said the studio. The house's rustic walls blend with their surroundings
Reinforced concrete and concrete masonry units (CMUs) were used to build the exterior walls, which are finished with white, polished cement.
The home's front elevation has a textured surface that was created through the use of formwork made with wooden sticks.
"The front facade, which faces east, was cast in place against a formwork of local wooden sticks, resulting in a palimpsest wall that presents the journey of the sun and shadows each morning," explained the team.
The ground floor is an open space
The home has large openings that blur the boundary between the interior and exterior...