Fresnos House in Mexico City by Ludens
25/11/2014.
By Iván Hernández - Ludens. [MEX] Mexico
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
La Casa de Los Fresnos (or Fresnos House) is located in the central district of Coyoacán in Mexico City. The facade, built in local red 'recinto' stone, is closed to the outside, to the street. Instead, the different volumes and therefore the programme is organized inwards around two impressive ash trees and seeks to offer each space its own and different relation with each of the trees.
Casa de los Fresnos por Iván Hernández. Fotografía © Angélica Ibarra. Cortesía de Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Casa de los Fresnos por Iván Hernández. Fotografía © Angélica Ibarra. Cortesía de Ludens.
Casa de los Fresnos por Iván Hernández. Fotografía © Angélica Ibarra. Cortesía de Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens. Click above to see larger image.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
Floor plans. Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Image © courtesy of Ludens.
Elevations and Sections. Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Image © courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Image © courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Image © courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Image © courtesy of Ludens.
Fresnos House by Iván Hernández. Photography © Angélica Ibarra. Courtesy of Ludens.
The first tree is located on the border of the site, near the cobbled street. Its impressive trunk, near the main entrance, appears as if interrupted by the 'red-recinto' volume. The second tree, near the centre of the plot, creates a central courtyard that provides the rest of the spaces with light.
The building system emphasises different breaks and generates a series of concrete frames and interior facades to the courtyards. The house acquires its own character thanks to the textures, smells, sounds and temperatures of its various materials.
Description of project by Ludens
Located in Coyoacán, the project is proposed to be an introverted and intimate house. The facade was made with local material called red “recinto” which is a volcanic type of stone. The house remains closed to the exterior. In the interior, the volumes and the organization of the space is planned around two huge ash trees and the principal intention is that every space would be differently related with each tree.
The first tree is situated on the edge of the terrain on the side of the cobbled street where an impressive log is placed that looks as it was a plant pot of the ash tree in the house. The studio has a little patio that tops off the space and it´s illuminated as well as the concrete cube corresponding to the shower cabin in the studio bathroom.
The second tree it is close to the core of the ground and it creates a central courtyard that brightens the rest of the house program. On one side the concrete stairwell being perforated by window circles in a random way framing some tree trunk angles.
The kitchen is on the other side in the first level which it´s completely open in order to take advantage of the courtyard using the tree trunk as the place to eat outdoors. In the second level the master bedroom frames the tree trunk verticality with a squared vain that abstracts its texture.
Taking advantage of the grandiose tree cortex inside the master bathroom, the tub extends slightly on the courtyard creating a direct window to the tree frond and the sky.
This is how the house seems to be organized in slices that separates one from each other to allow the existence of the trees besides of obtaining light and natural ventilation by using this pauses. The same constructive system emphasizes those pauses generating a series of concrete frames where every interior façade produces a courtyard made of brick and wood cancels giving the house a character where the final result is set by the textures, the smells, the sounds and temperature. It is an introverted house but simultaneously is full of possibilities to be in contact with the nature and the environment, a house that feels intimate but it´s constantly opening to itself.
TECHNICAL SHEET.-
Architect.- Iván Hernández, Ludens.
Design Team.- Tiago Pinto, Anna Mieszek, Antonio García, Juan Vázquez.
Location.- Mexico DF, Mexico.
Area.- 300m² de terreno, 300m² de construcción.
Constructor.- CIME.
Structural Design.- Felipe Heredia DAE.
Special design.- Briefcase.
Year.- 2013-2014.
More information
IVÁN HERNÁNDEZ QUINTELA
Iván Hernández Quintela founded ludens in 2002. Based in Mexico City, the firm critically studies “how objects and spaces tend to affect one’s behavior, not by becoming neutral or unaffecting mechanisms, but by becoming interactive mechanisms, capable of transformation by their users.” “Tools for Everyday Living,” his recent small-scale series of projects ranging from furniture to room installations, challenges assumptions of space and usage. The “segregator” explores the arbitrariness of security checkpoints; “bird houses” uses minimal architectural gestures to suggest potential inhabitations and possible appropriations. The “see-saw table” destabilizes the conventions of eating and conversation.
ludens has exhibited work throughout Mexico and has been published in Celeste and On Site. Ivan Hernandez Quintela received his bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Texas, Austin and is adjunct design professor in the Architecture and Urbanism Department at the Universidad Iberoamericana.
