heinz legler expands modular tree-top V house in mexico

architects heinz legler and wife veronique lievre have been designing luxury hotel rooms and structures for the boutique-homes vacation rental engine for some time now. recently, they’ve shared with us new images of the V house located amid the forest canopy in yelapa, mexico, for the verana hotel. the structure was originally designed and built as temporary accommodation for hotel staff, but due to its popularity the V house was updated and added upon to open as guest housing just a year later. the construction for the eco-homes employs a strategy that allows them to be built in almost any location with the idea to minimize the impact on site, preserving any environment in which they are built. by elevating the living spaces 16′ above the ground, living in the V-house separates human interaction from the landscape while offering the best views of the location.

the original staff houses grew enough in popularity that more guest houses were built a year later
image © verana (also first image)

each room, measuring just 16′ x 16′ occupies the top space of an upside-down pyramidal structure that anchors into 5 – 3′ x 3′ concrete blocks, which constitute the only man-made components to interact with the ground. V-shaped steel frames were prefabricated offsite and brought in by boat, the only accessible means to the steeply sloped site. the tree-house like modular strategy theoretically allows for the combination of various functions linked in any arrangement to make custom buildings elevated in the sky, a method which was implemented with the guest rooms containing a connecting hallway and deck spaces. painted plywood, an economical and readily available local material, is utilized to form internal and external partitions as the climate does not require heavily insulation, with the ability to substitute any sort of panel. simple curtains provide any further privacy or shading from the sun. an angled corrugated metal roof collects rainwater for re-use and extends beyond the perimeter of the living space providing further shade.

the small guest houses function as tree houses that are almost lost in the forest canopy
image © verana

with this construction method, the V house was built on site in only four weeks without the use of electricity. with the primary steel structure serving as the base to all the other components, every element can be mechanically assembled without heavy equipment. with incorporated solar panels, composting toilets and the rainwater collection systems the V houses can also be entirely self sustainable.

the new guest rooms feature brightly colored cladding in a tropical environment, as well as a shared deck
image © verana