Zozaya Arquitectos designed a house on one of the highest hills in the city of Zihuatanejo, currently one of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico, where the founder of the firm has developed much of his professional career. The house is structured in three terraced volumes to capture spectacular panoramic views, while adapting itself to the topography.

The design of Zozaya Arquitectos adopts local building materials and techniques that integrate the house into its context while giving it a modern image.

The house consists of three levels made up of two juxtaposed rectangular volumes, the upper level being the access level. The intermediate floor of the house has the function of social area, and enjoys a terrace with a pool flown that is blurred with the sea.

Description of project by Zozaya Arquitectos

Casa Z is located on one of the highest hills in Zihuatanejo, on a trapezoidal land with an area of 500 m2. The surface of the land is irregular, the main access being on the upper part of the land. The main concept of the project was to create a minimalist house with rich social spaces where users could enjoy the panoramic views and the climate of the region. Three levels are proposed composed of two volumes that would be staggered to take advantage and respect the topography.

The central volume of the house consists of two juxtaposed rectangular volumes composed of twenty-five centimeters thick walls. The upper rectangular volume has the function of master bedroom, this space frames the view and creates the sensation of being flying in the air due the altitude. The street facade uses a double skin façade made up of vertical bamboo, generating privacy and solar protection to the room. 

The intermediate level of the house has the main function of social area, from this level you can descend to access the terrace and pool area. The infinity pool reflects the panoramic view and ocean on the water successfully giving the sensation of flow. 

The architectural piece uses essential materials such as concrete, steel, local limestone and bamboo. This mix of materials and local construction techniques gives the house a strong modern and tropical personality, successfully adapting to its context and being in harmony with nature.

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Architects
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Zozaya Arquitectos. Leader of Design and Project.- Daniel Zozaya Valdés

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Design team
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Enrique Zozaya, Ángel Sotelo, Luis Alonso, José Antonio Vázquez, Ana Karen Cadena, Esthela Valenzuela

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Collaborators
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Structural Design.- Omar Hernández
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Builder
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Zozaya Arquitectos
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Area
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470 m²
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Dates
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2018
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Founded by the prestigious architect Enrique Zozaya and his office Zozaya Arquitectos. It was born with the concept of creating housing with a unique and innovative style in its architecture, always prioritizing sustainability with the least possible impact to the natural site.

Enrique Zozaya, founder architect, was born in Mexico City. He studied architecture at La Salle University (1973-1979). He worked as a project developer for Ricardo Legorreta and Ramírez Vázquez, which greatly influenced his architecture that would come to develop next years in Zihuatanejo where he founded the firm Zozaya Arquitectos in 1986.

Enrique has developed most of his experience in the Mexican Pacific coast, where he has managed to integrate into his culture, assimilate the customs, way of life and the tastes of its inhabitants, especially in Zihuatanejo. His contact with the life of the tropics on the Guerrero coast, has allowed him to create his own style that, more than in formal principles, is based on the details that emerge from everyday observation, such as climate, natural landscape and the best points of observation, the direction of the wind and the breeze, the light, the color and from there create spaces that harmonize with the environment and provide its inhabitants, in private residences or hotels.

Daniel Zozaya, director architect, was born in Mexico City. He studied Architecture at the Universidad Iberoamericana (2010-2015). Joined the firm in 2015, and since his arrival Daniel has managed to turn it around in several areas such as the implementation of new technologies, materials, digital design and new blood to the architectural design.

His design is based on the simplicity and functionality of the spaces and materials. Passionate about apparent concrete, wood, steel, and stone. His role as an architect has not only changed the firm's innovation, but thanks to his youth, being sustainable is innate to this new architect.
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Published on: May 24, 2019
Cite: "In continuity with the topography and the sea. House Z by Zozaya Arquitectos" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/continuity-topography-and-sea-house-z-zozaya-arquitectos> ISSN 1139-6415
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