Architecture studio Taller Hector Barroso has used earthen blocks, pine and concrete to help this holiday dwelling blend into its forested setting in central Mexico.

House in Avandaro is located in the scenic town of Valle de Bravo, which lies about 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Mexico City. The two-storey dwelling sits on an irregularly shaped site that is surrounded by trees.
The house was designed by Mexico City studio Taller Hector Barroso as a weekend retreat for a family of six.

A primary goal for the design team was to create an "architecture that belongs to the place and merges with its surrounding forest".
Totalling 935 square metres, the residence is composed of rectilinear volumes that are intermixed with outdoor spaces, including a shallow, granite-lined pool for contemplation. Each volume has a different orientation in accordance with its program.
Exterior walls are made of concrete and pine, along with mud bricks that were produced in a nearby quarry. Soffits are crossed by slender wooden beams.
"The balance between materials ? mud and wood ? and its vernacular building processes bind this country house in harmony with its context," the studio said in a description.

The facade overlooking the contemplation pool is lined with concrete columns, which lend visual rhythm and form a portico at the ground level. Up above, occupants can relax on a balcony fitted with hammocks.
Gardens and walkways were integrated into other areas of the r...