EDAA constructs casa meztitla with pivoting glass walls

EDAA constructs casa meztitla with pivoting glass walls
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio
all images courtesy of EDAA

casa meztitla is a holiday/retirement home nestled in a national park under the constant gaze of the tepozteco mountain south of mexico city. the site, picked by the architects themselves, estrategias para el desarrollo de arqitectura or EDAA, was the impetus for every aspect of the design, from the layout to the aesthetic and overall functionality. a central grass courtyard, the only portion of introduced landscaping in the project, serves as the centerpiece for the home which wraps around three sides offering natural light and air to every room. the layout contains four major areas which make up the program: the social areas, the service wing, the private bedrooms, and the second-story studio. the design aims to directly connect the inhabitant with the exterior from every room in the house without needing to access any other spaces along the way. 

image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

the living, dining and kitchen areas occupy a glass enclosed hall that connects the service and bedroom wings. open on both ends to the exterior, the interior side faces the central courtyard while the other enjoys endless forest views. most notable about this area are the massive pivoting glass doors that swing open to expose the interior. a compromise between designer and client, the doors offer the openness desired by the architect while maintaining the sense of security required by the client. framing the doors, exterior walls of volcanic rock relate to the rugged rocky terrain that surround the construct. the service wing along the east side of the courtyard contains laundry facilities, mechanical equipment, and half-bathroom. along the opposite side of the courtyard, the bedrooms are accessed independent of the social area through private enclosed patios. two bedrooms and two guest rooms enjoy the protection of more opaque walls still maintaining the direct contact with the exterior through operable windows and entry patios. above the bedrooms, the studio is flanked by glass partitions on either side that enjoy more distant views of the landscape.

house hidden among the vegetation
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

materials were chosen with context and durability in mind. outer stone walls are supported by a CMU block structure on a concrete foundation which is present throughout the home. white lime and plaster forms the interior walls which not only helps reflect light throughout the interior but also requires very little maintenance over time. to counterbalance the coldness of the structure, fixtures made of locally-sourced pine timber are finished with natural waxes to add warmth.

image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

with the site’s relatively remote characteristics, the house was designed to provide all the water needs without the use of the grid. two water reservoirs on site collect and recycle water for use within the project. in the courtyard, a concrete patio covers the potable water cistern which collects rain water and uses a system of natural filtration to purify the water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. near to the house, a circular exposed pool collects all the other water from the site which is channeled through small canals across the site through another filtration system. the open pool contains within it a small ecosystem which adds to the local flora and fauna and helps maintain water quality.

view into the central courtyard
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

central courtyard
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

exterior wall and rooftop deck
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

living area open to the exterior through the large pivoting doors
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

dining area
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

bedrooms enjoy private outdoor patios and bathrooms
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

courtyard with concrete patio over water cistern
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

entry into the bedrooms through private patios
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

second-story bridge leads to the studio space
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

outdoor lap pool connects to the home
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

grey water pool
image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

image © yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio

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project info:

architecture: edaa, www.edaa.mx, facebook: edaa mx
architect (partner) in charge: luis arturo garcía
design team: juan hernández, jahir villanueva, antonio rivas, ana fernanda rodríguez, diego ruiz velazco
construction team: hans álvarez, yolibel allende
photography: yoshihiro koitani, kuu studio
status: constructed
typology: single house
completion date: 2014
constructed area: 4,300 sqf (400 sqm)
location: tepoztlán, méxico