standing amidst a woodland in el barrial, mexico, WEYES estudio has created a family home that is designed to blend into its natural surroundings. aptly titled ‘casa en el bosque’ – or ‘house in the forest’ – the design focuses on minimal consumption and forming an architectural language that embraces the clients’ passion for the great outdoors.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

all images © the raws

 

 

the guiding concept behind the project focuses on translating the client’s love for nature into a house that does not destroy but complements the surroundings. when embarking upon the design, the main challenge posed by the site was its irregular and sloped terrain, which ranges between a gradient of 28% to 35%. in response to this, WEYES estudio developed the building as a program of four volumes, connected by stairs, corridors and external bridges that respect the original topography and vegetation of the forest.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

located on a plot of land measuring 7,431 ft2 (690.38 m2), the new intervention encloses a program of 1,776 ft2 (165 m2). split over four interconnected volumes, the location of these new pavilions has been guided by trees and roots, with each one being carefully positioned in an effort to safeguard the seventeen trees that inhabited the site originally.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

the accommodation has been broken down according to the needs and lifestyle of the family. together they comprise a social pavilion of 485.45 ft2 (45.1 m2) with a terrace and internal patio, a private resting pavilion of 322.92 ft2 (30 m2), a pavilion for visitors of 298.38 ft2 (27.72 m2) and a garage and storage area of 666.29 ft2 (61.9 m2). these masses are created to respectfully blend with the forest, covered by the treetops and appearing to float off the ground.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

the structure utilizes a traditional system of columns and lightened concrete slabs, with double brick walls that at points extend into the landscape to guide routes and create semi-private outdoor patios. the intention of having a ‘minimum footprint’ on the site was the guiding principle of the project. all of the original trees were conserved, the construction process was of low impact and without heavy machinery, local and low-cost materials and supplies were used, passive systems were carried out to improve the ventilation and lighting of the spaces and the soil of the areas affected by the construction process was regenerated.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

with the collaboration of global sustainable solutions, directed by the architect josé borrani, strategies were carried out for the regeneration of the soil, which would trigger growth of the ecosystem. an aeration work was actioned on the compacted soil by constructive manoeuvring and the damaged substrate was restored with an organic cover of leaves.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

WEYES estudio also avoided sophisticated energy saving systems and focused more on reducing consumption. the design therefore take advantage of the shade of the trees and cross ventilation for the improvement of the interior temperature. the double walls maintain the temperature in the interior spaces during the winter. the lighting is solved with windows and skylights during the day and lighting of low consumption at night. the service areas were limited to concentrate trajectories and low-consumption equipment was used.

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

overall, the house facilitates a ‘minimal footprint’. therefore, with regard to energy, rather than producing, the family can consume the minimum. for water consumption, use gravity and reduce usage. for rain, allow infiltration into subsoil and natural water streams avoiding erosion. for flora and fauna, integrate ourselves into their cycles. for substrate, regenerate what has been damaged by the human footprint. for the economic factor, solved from the most logical local resources. for lighting, take advantage of daylight and reduce night lighting consumption. for temperature control, traditional passive systems. for technology, focus communications and simplify everyday tasks. all of these factors result in a considerate and respectful architecture that embodies a more sustainable way of living. 

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

WEYES estudio builds a family home into the treetops of a mexican forest designboom

 

 

project info:

 

project name: casa en el bosque (house in the forest)

location: el barrial, santiago, nuevo león, mexico

design: WEYES estudio (moises morales, chente tapia and mariana montoya)

team: adela mortera, vania ibarra and axel ochoa

collaborators: jose borrani (environmental management) and roman cuellar (structure)

photography: the raws

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynne myers | designboom