estudio atemporal's casa cono: glass home floats in mexico's forest

an escape from urban life in valle de bravo

A contemporary dwelling dubbed Casa Cono has been completed by Mexican architecture firm Estudio Atemporal, designed for a young couple looking to escape urban life. Located in the forests outside Valle de Bravo, the residential project merges living, working, and daily routines within the grandeur of its woodland setting. The design of the structure responds to the gently sloping terrain and respects the presence of each tree — elevating these natural elements as central figures within the architectural narrative. Casa Cono consists of two rectangular volumes, layered and rotated to form a geometric composition that organizes the program across two levels. This L-shaped organization frames diverse views to optimize a connection with nature throughout.

images © LGM Studio

casa cono opens through full-height glass

Facades of full-height glass give Casa Cono a sense of weightlessness, which the architects at Estudio Atemporal employs to further a connection between the interiors and forest beyond. With these expansive windows, residents are encouraged to contemplate the interplay between trees, light, and wind. The ground floor is organized between public spaces, partitioned by a sheltered patio leading to the entrance. This area branches into a study on one side and a unified living, dining, and kitchen area on the other, lending a cohesive and open living space. Meanwhile, bedroom suites and other private areas are founds along the upper level. With smaller, more intimate rooms, and a curated material palette, this upper floor evokes a more cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Casa Cono is designed for a young couple seeking to escape urban life

weightless architecture by estudio atemporal

When viewed from the surrounding forests, Estudio Atemporal’s Casa Cono appears as a seemingly weightless structure gently resting over the ground. Following along a footpath that unfolds across the landscape, residents arrive at the highest point where the house’s rear entrance is unveiled, creating a dramatic threshold into the home, an area which evokes an expansive observation deck.

The team at Estudio Atemporal comments: ‘As a fundamental part of the project’s conceptualization, the forest and the topography become the protagonists in our approach to the site. We envision this house as a series of volumes articulated with each other, becoming participants and spectators of the surrounding nature.‘ Understanding the purpose of each space, its particularities and needs, allowed the team to begin studying the program volumetrically, translating uses into three-dimensional, plastic, and architectural decisions, always maintaining a constructive and organizational logic.

the design responds to the terrain and respects the presence of each tree