Clay tiles line the front of a slender family house in San Miguel de Allende that was designed by local architect Mauricio Alonso to be in "continuous dialogue with the landscape".
Designed for a family of three, the house is located in a dense neighbourhood and occupies an oddly shaped property in a cul-de-sac. To the northeast is a city-owned park.
Tomm House is located on an oddly shaped property in a Mexican cul-de-sac
Providing a generous garden and a connection to the outdoors ? without sacrificing privacy ? were primary goals for the project.
The site conditions figured heavily into the design of the 1,948-square-metre (181-square-metre) home.
The home rises two levels around a private garden
"The house proposes a way of living that starts from a continuous dialogue with the landscape in which it is located," said Mauricio Alonso, head of local studio M Aquitectura. Just 16.4 feet wide (five metres), the house is rectangular in plan and rises two levels.
Mauricio Alonso chose concrete for the walls
Rather than face the street, the architect rotated the home to be oriented toward a private garden, which takes up about half of the property.
Walls are made of concrete, and the side facades are lined with large windows to deliver views and daylight. Wooden louvres help mitigate heat gain and ensure privacy.
Alonso opted for a windowless wall for the street-facing side of the house
For the street-facing side of the house, the architect opted for a wi...