Mexican architect Francisco Pardo has created a partly underground weekend home that is meant to exist in "pleasant tension" with the natural landscape.
Casa Aguacates is located in Valle de Bravo, a rural lake town that is a couple of hours by car from Mexico City. Known for its pleasant weather and scenic terrain, the area is a popular getaway spot for urban dwellers.
Casa Aguacates is partly subterranean
The dwelling was designed to serve as a weekend retreat for a client who enjoys hang gliding.
The 442-square-metre home sits on an unusual site ? an avocado field that slopes down toward a forest.
The house sits on an avocado field
"The main idea was to have a view of the forest, but the client also wanted to leave the avocado field intact, which is how we arrived at the decision of burying the house," said Francisco Pardo, who is based in Mexico City. Trapezoidal in plan, the back of the house is level with the ground and opens toward a grassy yard.
An exterior staircase leads visitors inside
The home's front portion is sunken below ground and is accessed via an exterior staircase on the south. This side of the house faces wild vegetation, in contrast to the "domesticated landscape" found in the rear.
"Thus, the project exists between two realities, functioning as a subtle expression of architecture's ability to exercise control over ? and coexist in pleasant tension with ? its natural surroundings," the architect said.
Bedrooms ...