Tepoztlán House by Dosa Studio

Jul 16, 2023

Location: Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico

Project Size: 6,900 square feet

Program: Tepoztlán House is a weekend house distributed on two floors and a rooftop. The main entrance on the first floor welcomes the user. The kitchen, hall, and dining room naturally integrate with the exterior. One guest bedroom and the service areas are also located on this floor. The second floor is composed of a great hall that leads to four more bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom. Communal spaces on both floors remain open towards the natural backdrop. The rooftop was designed to provide the user with an isolated space suitable for contemplation and dialogue with the landscape.

Solution: The house was designed with the reflection of the site's identity as the main concept. The landscape blends with the materials, using the region's vernacular construction systems. With its hourglass shape, the house communicates with its context through two receptacles connected between them, framing the outside view.

The front facade opens with enormous stone walls towards an old Amate tree that seems willing to enter the house. The entrance blends with the inner hall when opening the wooden mullions, creating a great vestibule that combines the interior with the exterior. At the center of the house, a round opening was formed between the slabs of the main hall, creating a connection with the sky through a reflecting pool. This results in an element of contemplation, also operating as a reflection of the passing of time. A regular flow of light is captured inside and moves through the course of the day. The surrounding garden composed by layers of vegetation expands itself towards the hills, blurring the borders of the premises and making it seem infinite.

Structure and Materials: The materials applied to the house were selected to convey the site's identity as well as to utilize local labor. This selection includes local stone, natural stucco mixed with site soil, rusted steel, and solid wood. The structure is a hybrid system that consists of concrete bricks, concrete, and steel in order to create open spaces that communicate with the exterior. Terraces are formed by a metal structure.

Additional information Completion date: September 2022 Site size: 0.3 acres Total project cost: $ 799,000 Client: Alejandro Gutiérrez Owner: Alejandro Gutiérrez

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Photos © Fabián Martínez Click to enlarge

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Architect: Dosa Studio Mérida 164 Roma Norte, Mexico City, Mexico www.dosa.mx

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Design Lead: Sergio Sousa Design Lead: Raúl Medina Collaborator: Paola Monreal Collaborator: Marcela Segovia Collaborator: Abraham Servin Collaborator: Sandra OcampoGraphic Design and Media: Guillermina Gocher

Architect of record: Dosa Studio

Interior designer: Dosa Studio

Engineers:Engineer-architect: Alan Israel Labastida Medina

Consultants:Landscape: Pholia Paisajismo Co. (Olympia Frangos)Construction: Alan Israel Labastida MedinaCarpentry and metal: Primitivo Taller Co. (Sato Nishi)Lighting: Play Lux Co. (Fausto Figueroa)Furnishings: Ciento Once Co. (Elizabeth Pineda), Taller Nacional Co., and Nanimarquina Co.

General contractor: Alan Israel Labastida Medina

Photographer: Fabián Martínez

Structural System Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project: Alan Israel Labastida Medina

Exterior Cladding Masonry: Natural stucco mixed with site soil Rainscreen: Fester Wood: Parota wood Other cladding unique to this project: Local stone

Roofing Built-up roofing: Concrete slab Tile/shingles: Clay tiles

Windows Metal frame: Rusted steel

Glazing Glass: 9mm laminated glass Skylights: 9mm laminated glass Insulated-panel or plastic glazing: 9mm laminated glass

Doors Entrances: Rusted steel Metal doors: Rusted steel Wood doors: Parota and Tzalam wood Sliding doors: Rusted steel and 9mm laminated glass

Hardware Locksets: Made by local labor on-site with rusted steel Pulls: Made by local labor on-site with rusted steel

Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Parota and Tzalam wood Wall coverings: Natural stucco mixed with site soilPaneling: Parota wood Resilient flooring: Concrete mixed with site soil

Furnishings Reception furniture: Solid Tzalam wood Fixed seating: Solid Tzalam wood Chairs: Solid Tzalam wood Tables: Solid Tzalam wood Other furniture: Natural fiber rug

LightingInterior ambient lighting: iLumileds in ceilingExterior: iLumileds

Plumbing Plumbing products: Rokam Co.