Garden House, La Estadia, Mexico 2009
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The Garden House is located in the community La Estadia, north of Mexico City. The site is oriented on a north-south axis and at an altitude of over 2500m and a 35m slope it offers spectacular vistas of the adjacent forest and a river to the south.
The house responds to the topography of the terrain, allotting the architectural program in four superimposed volumes that terrace down the natural slope of the site. The living and dining areas morph and connect to the outside via a 20m terrace that appears to float above the rest of the building.
The encompassing landscape motivated us to design habitable green roofs that blend with the scenery. These roofs also help to maintain the climate conditions inside the house, controlling temperature fluctuations during the seasons.
The roof is composed of geotextile materials, a 30cm layer of soil and grass. It is used for various outdoor activities especially during the summer months. The aerial view of the house displays architecture that completely blends in with the natural terrain with few tectonic manipulations defining the distinct levels.