zeller & moye connects box-like volumes to form sustainable housing in rural mexico

after analyzing the traditions and current living situations of locals in the mexican countryside, zeller & moye has designed ‘casa hilo’ — a contemporary social housing type for a rural environment. the development is based on a modular system of volumes, allowing for flexible arrangements and the ability for homes to be extended in size. the project focuses on external spaces that help blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor environments while also providing natural light and ventilation.

all images © jaime navarro

the box-like volumes are designed by zeller & moye to afford both single and multi-story configurations. while connecting to part of a whole, the units are also created as a separate space, each one having a front door and a covered terrace. by doing this, the residents can access different parts of the house via the garden areas rather than using typical corridor spaces to circulate. for ‘casa hilo’, the program includes two bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room, and a bathroom.

the prototype is designed with a great importance placed on garden space. within the program, outdoor cooking and dining is facilitated with the implementation of a cooking pit and table, making the external space as vital as the indoor environment and referencing the country’s traditional rural housing. the boxes also open up onto shaded terraces, giving relief from the hot sun thanks to the micro-climate that the plants provide, and allowing for social interaction between residents.

the structure of of the house is built from a concrete framework and adobe blocks to infill the frame, which have been manufactured on site by locals. adobe blocks are selected for the hot climate as they help to absorb excess humidity and cool the interior with its thermal mass during the day, resulting in a sustainable construction type. the concrete and adobe are offset by the bamboo lattice of the doors and windows. the lattice structure allows for air to circulate through the internal spaces, in addition to bringing a decorative element to the prototype. read designboom’s interview with christoph zeller and ingrid moye of zeller & moye here.

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project info:

project title: casa hilo

type: prototype of rural social housing

location: design for coquimatlán, colima, méxico; built prototype at infonavit housing laboratory in ápan, hidalgo, méxico

architects: zeller & moye: ingrid moye, christoph zeller (directors); florence bassa, gian andrea diana, omar g. muñoz, eduardo palomino, santiago sitten (team)

consultants: ricardo camacho (structure), nlz instala (installations)

total size: 2906.26 ft2 (270 m2)

house size: 968.75 ft2 (90 m2)

garden size: 1937.5 ft2 (180 m2)

status: completed (may 2019)

photography: jaime navarro