The stark white surfaces that dominate this minimal house in Monterrey, Mexico, are interrupted by a golden wall that elevates the quality of light inside.
Designed by Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza with local firm GLR Arquitectos, the home is named Domus Aurea ? Latin for "golden house".

Behind its blank facades sits a double-height wall covered in gold leaf, oriented to reflect the south light that streams in through a high window.
"Accordingly this light-filled house would be literally flooded with golden light, and thus become a veritable domus aurea," Campo Baeza said.

The architect aimed to recreate the light qualities found in houses like Casa Gilardi in Mexico City by legendary Mexican architect Luis Barragán, who Campo Baeza cites as a major influence. "If Barragán is always present in all my architecture, he is even more in this case," the architect said, "which is why I decided that not only would my house be flooded with light, but that it would be the golden light of Barragán."

The cuboid building, which presents no windows to the street, rises above a perimeter wall that encloses a garden on four sides.
A symmetrical front facade includes two large ports for cars, positioned either side of a smaller central opening.

Once beyond the barrier wall, the main entrance is highlighted in grey marble ? both on the ground and up the wall containing the front door ? and sheltered by thin sheets of glass.
Functionally...