sordo madaleno arquitectos' valle san nicolás clubhouse floats atop a lake in mexico

architecture in harmony with nature

sordo madaleno arquitectos unveils its ‘valle san nicolás clubhouse’ development along the outskirts of mexico‘s valle de bravo. the project offers a privileged site for the new 370-hectare residential development, where the urban layout and every architectural element is designed in harmony with nature and with the aim of protecting the existing landscape.

throughout the complex, spaces of relaxation and wellbeing are offered for residents, enhancing the connection with and enjoyment of the natural surroundings. these include the clubhouse and the 800-meter waterski lake set at the lowest point on the masterplan, taking advantage of the rainwater runoff.

images © rafael gamo | @rafaelgamo

sordo madaleno arquitectos celebrates the mountain and lake

with its valle san nicolás clubhouse, mexico city-based sordo madaleno arquitectos (see more here) explores the natural conditions of the site. this process allowed the team to better understand how the two most prominent natural elements — the mountain and the lake — could converge and relate to each other through a work of architecture. this point of encounter gave rise to the clubhouse as the main place for socializing.

following the guiding idea of a subtle and friendly approach between architecture and nature, the clubhouse was conceptualized in reference to a boat anchored in the lake, as if it were floating on the water.

in volumetric terms it is resolved by means of a circular floor plan fragmented around its radius to distribute and modulate the different areas and amenities it contains. this programmatic strategy is made visible in the voids and solids created by the internal bodies of water as they merge with the lake, and the walls that rise from the bottom of the lake.

the two rings of the valle san nicolás clubhouse

the clubhouse takes shape as two rings, one inner and one outer, which serve as open corridors to move around the building and enjoy near-360-degree-views of the landscape. however, a lower central passageway also shortens journey distances and leads directly to the main deck, with its bar and TV room, before culminating in the floating pool.

divided by this central passageway, the east side of the clubhouse contains the dining area, barbecue, kitchen and related services. the west side, meanwhile, houses the gym, spa cabins with outdoor jacuzzi, as well as changing rooms with steam room and sauna.

structure and materiality

sordo madaleno arquitectos constructs its valle san nicolás clubhouse of cross-laminated timber (CLT), with exposed beams and columns designed in short spans with a radial distribution reflecting the circular volume, and stone walls housed in wooden frames that serve to anchor the volume in the lake.

the interiors express a palette of natural materials that match the structural timber elements. a kebony deck, volcanic stone and an american red oak roof are just some of the finishes used to harmoniously reflect the surroundings.

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project info:

project title: valle san nicolás clubhouse

architecture: sordo madaleno arquitectos | @sordo_madaleno

president: javier sordo madaleno bringas
architecture director: javier sordo madaleno de haro, fernando sordo madaleno de haro
project leader: boris pena
completion: 2021
location: valle de bravo, state of mexico
photography: rafael gamo | @rafaelgamo

design manager: luis pucheta, santiago letona, alba díaz
design team: andrés burguete, ignacio cabrera, josé mendoza, luis de la torre, marco pérez, federico serna
engineering coordination: marcos hernández
engineering team: josé eduardo hernández
media & marketing: rosalba rojas, daniela cruz, vanessa gutiérrez
interior design director: fernanda patiño
interior design team: delfina espina, regina jarque

structural engineering: metal y madera, alba estructural
electric, systems & special engineering: imati
hydrosanitary engineering: imati
lighting consultant: artec3
audio & video consultant: solutions audio&video
landscape consultant: jerónimo gabayet, concepto Q, entorno taller de paisaje
construction: TUCA, metal y madera
construction coordination: terraforma, GJA