Bloqe Arquitectura has designed Casa Caimán on the Oaxacan coast of Santa María Colotepec. Inspired by the vernacular architecture of the area, Casa Caimán is the first house in a complex which includes other buildings such as other houses, villas, a beach club and a restaurant.

Through the open and semi-open spaces, different dialogues are generated between the house itself, the sea and the lagoon. Coexisting, as well as competing for prominence, the building and the views complement each other perfectly to evoke the sensations of calm and tranquillity in the users.

Bloqe Arquitectura's project is designed around a corridor that acts as a central axis and divides the space between the day area, which is completely open to the outside, and the night area, which is enclosed by parota wood lattices that allow privacy levels to be adjusted without affecting the ventilation of the interior.

The pigmented cement of the load-bearing walls, columns and beams is responsible for supporting the parota wood lattices and the roofs of the palapas. The play of light and shadow created by these elements enhances the beauty of this paradisiacal environment, complemented by the travertine marble paving, making this a unique room.

Casa Caimán by Bloqe Arquitectura. Photography by Rafael Gamo.

Casa Caimán by Bloqe Arquitectura. Photography by Rafael Gamo.

Description of project by Bloqe Arquitectura

Casa Caimán is the first house in a complex of 3 houses and 15 villas located on the Oaxacan coast. Between the sea and the lagoon, there are various architectural pieces that include houses, villas, a beach club and a restaurant. Each structure establishes a dialogue with the landscape through sculptural geometries, using a vocabulary of pigmented cement walls, platforms, palapa roofs and parota lattices. The project is inspired by the vernacular architectures of this coastal region.

Each house is composed of a central axis flanked by two concrete walls, which serves as a mediating space between two bays: one of a public nature and the other of a private nature. The rooms are connected to the exterior through parota wood lattices, which allow the desired level of privacy to be adjusted without compromising the flow of air.

Casa Caimán by Bloqe Arquitectura. Photography by Rafael Gamo.
Casa Caimán by Bloqe Arquitectura. Photography by Rafael Gamo.

The houses are built on platforms at different levels that highlight the horizontal character of the landscape. The materials used are limited, simple and age with dignity: pigmented concrete, parota wood, palms that form the roof of the palapas and travertine marble.

The relationship between the buildings and the environment is manifested not only in the architectural design, but also in the choice of materials. Pigmented concrete is not only durable, but also reflects light in a unique way, creating changing visual effects depending on the time of day and the position of the sun. This interplay between light and shadow enhances the natural beauty of the place, turning each space into a sensory experience.

More information

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Architects
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Bloqe Arquitectura. Lead Architect.- Jorge Esquer Luque.

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Project team
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Francisco Villalón, Jerónimo Pratts, Juan Pablo Pérez, German Cortés. Alfredo Lamadrid, Rodrigo Álvarez.

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Collaborators
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MAHTE.- Maria Fernanda Tar.
Comunicacion.- área colectiva.

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Location
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Barra de Navidad, Santa María Colotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

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Photograph
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Bloqe Arquitectura. Architecture studio based in Mexico, founded by architect Jorge Esquer Luque, in 2017. Jorge Esquer Luque. He is a Mexican architect, graduated from the Universidad Iberoamericana in 2007. It is a multidisciplinary studio that works with projects at different scales, from the conceptual to the development of the execution and interior design.

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Published on: February 3, 2025
Cite: "Between the sea and the lagoon. Casa Caimán by Bloqe Arquitectura" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/between-sea-and-lagoon-casa-caiman-bloqe-arquitectura> ISSN 1139-6415
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