Two levels rise at the level of the land, the upper level is reserved for a private area with the same sheet metal enclosure as the roof that exceeds the lower level as if it were a roof eaves together with a terrace space supported by two pillars placed diagonally.
The house uses passive bioclimatic control technologies to take advantage of natural resources, the use of ventilation with a ventilated façade as well as the intention of maintaining a pleasant temperature throughout the year, guaranteeing thermal comfort.
Description of project by A-001 Taller de Arquitectura
The Architecture
Casa Ocoxal sits in a forest neighboring the town of Valle de Bravo, approximately 160 kilometers away from Mexico City, in a piece of land of 9,000 m² that works as a productive microsystem into which the house respectfully integrates itself.
The shape of the main house is born out of a geometry of superimposed volumes through which the void is inhabited. The formal composition evokes Valle de Bravo’s traditional housing, the image of a cabin with a gabled rooftop proposes a reinterpretation of this iconography with a contemporary aesthetic, which is achieved through the use of black metal sheets on the facade, as well as the use of concrete and glass.
The top volume contains the private family rooms, while the lower volume contains semi-private spaces, such as guest rooms. In the void that is generated by the intersection of both of these volumes, you can find the shared spaces that allow for a relationship between the inside and the outside to bloom, with a special focus on the contemplation and understanding of the ecosystem.
The project isn’t just a family oriented holiday home, it’s also an exhaustive creative exercise centered around fulfilling all of the functional requirements of the residence as well as giving value to the whole ensemble, which starts off by observing and understanding each element’s role in the space of intervention.
The Natural Resources
It was very important for the client to inhabit a space that could generate life cycles alongside the environment, which is why the leitmotiv of the project was to build a bridge that creates a connection between the house and the land, through the conservation and exploitation of the existing natural resources, which help vitalize the orchards, the fruit trees –all of the existing trees inside the estate were kept as they were–, the bees and the chicken.
About the Use of Water
One of the estate’s main characteristics is that part of it is located in a ravine through which a river runs, feeding the hydraulic mill that generates enough electricity to supply 70% of the house’s power supply. This also allows for a water distribution network, an irrigation canal, water exploitation, wetlands, plantation areas, fruit trees and orchards. There’s also a rainwater recollection plant, which treats and filters the water that is used for the hydrosanitary services, the pool and the irrigation of the green areas. The water that is not used goes back to the river in the ravine, achieving zero waste.
About the Thermal Comfort
New passive bioclimatic control technologies were implemented with the intention of taking advantage of the environment’s natural resources as well as regulating the different factors that have an impact on the livability and comfort of this project, such as humidity and temperature. The rooftop is covered in 20 solar panels which provide warm temperatures for the bathrooms and the pool. It is possible to preserve an enjoyable temperature throughout the whole year, even in winter, thanks to the Venturi natural extraction system and a facade that ventilates through interior and exterior ducts and vents.
