T38studio builds three trapezoidal-prisms house in tijuana, mexico

T38studio builds three trapezoidal-prisms house in tijuana, mexico
(above) the three black volumes are connected by glass bridges
all images © fran parente

T38studio is a new york-based architecture firm that started their practice in tijuana, mexico. this led them to engage with an intricate reality through a wide range of housing projects that aim to reinsert viable and sustainable communities into an urban center forged by histories of migration, transnational exchanges, and informal growth. the ‘tlp’ house is located in a residential neighborhood on the upper part of a hill in tijuana. the dwelling is composed of three volumes that contain the main living spaces. the shape of these three volumes, trapezoidal prisms, respond to the irregular shape of the plot.

although there are no windows facing the street in the living areas, one is still able to perceive the flow of people

the three volumes are perforated in the center by a glass passageway. one of the important objectives was to achieve the correct balance between openness and privacy. although there are no windows facing the street in the living areas, one is still able to perceive the flow of people traversing from one space to the other through these glass passageways, relating a kind of performative action towards the outside.

located on a hill in tijuana, the house has impressive views 

the black volumes, which read like boxes from the street, shift their section through the folding of the concrete roof slabs in order to reflect the trapezoid condition of the plan in the back elevation. on the first floor, the double height living/dining room is connected through an outdoor terrace to the kitchen on the central volume, with the third volume housing the master bedroom. the program of the second floor consists of three bedrooms and a family room.

the house combines different volumes in black and gray concrete 

a glass bridge joins the different volumes

the tilted concrete slabs reference the ununiformed plot

stairs

project info:

architects: t38 studio
project team: alfonso medina, joseph ruiz tapia, enrique de la concha, sara díaz barranco, amy galeana, mariel nuñez collins, héctor hernández, alejandra matías, lucía arroyo, alejandro bustos
construction: taller38
project year: 2013-2014
site surface: 471 m2
built surface: 366 m2
location: méxico, tijuana, baja california

photographs: fran parente

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edited by: juliana neira | designboom