The House in Avándaro, designed by Ignacio Urquiza and Ana Paula de Alba, comprises four solid volumes. This design clearly differentiates the common areas—such as the kitchen and TV room—from the more private spaces, like the bedrooms and study. The exposed concrete roof serves as the main connecting element between the different volumes and crowns the home's quintessential social space: the living and dining room with its fireplace.
The choice of exposed concrete as the predominant material highlights the green of the surrounding vegetation. The well-chosen palette of materials, primarily neutral colors, results in a warm and inviting home that blends seamlessly with its environment.
House in Avándaro by Ignacio Urquiza and Ana Paula de Alba. Photograph by Rafael Gamo.
Project description by Ignacio Urquiza Seoane and Ana Paula de Alba
Set within the lush forests of Avándaro, this residence perches on a vegetated slope, with a steep topography guiding rainwater toward a neighboring stream.
The home's orientation and spatial configuration respond to the terrain's contours and the layout of ancient trees, allowing the main façade to face north and open toward the stream, inviting in a steady flow of natural light. A central void emerges from the interlocking volumes, creating an interior garden that preserves the towering pines and oaks on the site while letting southern sunlight naturally warm up the space.
The project is composed of two primary spatial types: solid enclosed volumes and an overarching structure that unites three of these, forming the core gathering space—a dynamic, open living area encased in glass to embrace its surroundings. This space is covered by a lightweight concrete slab supported by steel beams, merging openness with structural strength.
The volumes serve as the primary structure of the house, housing the private spaces and maintaining controlled views through strategically placed windows. These closed areas are designated for rest, cooking, or family time.
There are four distinct solid volumes. One contains two mirrored bedrooms. Another holds a TV or family room that can serve as an additional sleeping area. The third volume features the kitchen on the ground floor, a study on the intermediate level, and the master bedroom on the top floor. The fourth, set apart from the others, contains the cistern, mechanical room, service areas, and parking.
The roof is anchored by three of these volumes, as well as by the main fireplace—an element symbolizing the hearth and central gathering space of the home. This structural arrangement delineates the communal and public zones, including the living and dining areas and a secondary playroom or sitting area for children. This space is transparent on all sides, with a direct connection to the garden and the family room.
A floor-to-ceiling window spanning 9.6 meters in length and 3.6 meters in height defines the living and dining area. Divided into four sliding panels, this expanse of glass opens fully, allowing the frames to disappear into one of the adjoining volumes and transforming the space into a covered outdoor terrace. This approach allowed the design of a single, central living and dining area, harmoniously merging indoor and outdoor settings.
The entire house rests on an exposed concrete base, serving as both foundation and elevation, creating a thermal barrier that minimizes moisture transfer. This base supports the brick walls, finished in smooth, locally-sourced stucco.
The pitched roofs over the four volumes, covered in flat clay tiles, facilitate rainwater harvesting. In contrast, the lightweight roof remains flat, creating a private terrace accessible from the family’s three bedrooms, extending the experience upward and reintroducing residents to the treetops from a new vantage point.
The material palette, in neutral tones, forms a gentle monochromatic background that highlights the surrounding green landscape. These choices focus attention on the natural setting, enabling the forest, vegetation, rain, and environment to become integral to the experience of the space.
Following this principle, light materials were used for the interior. Textiles complement and contrast the walls’ soft texture, understated and classic furniture pieces were selected with the intention to not overwhelm or disrupt the sober language of the architecture and natural surroundings.
The balance between classic elements and custom pieces embodies a design principle of simplicity and neutrality, contributing to warmth in both appearance and tactile experience.
Solid materials, including stained and natural oak, black marble, and volcanic stone, define the palette. Textiles in natural wool, cashmere for warmth, linen in various weights and neutral tones, and locally crafted palm weavings add further texture.
The volumetric language of the furnishings and decorative elements is based on fundamental geometries, enhancing the elegance of the proposal through its purity and respect for form.
Discreet lighting fixtures complete the ambiance with soft, ambient light, aligning with the architectural and design intentions of the project.
Finally, the house explores the contrast between the residence’s habitable spaces, its morphology, and its close relationship to the surrounding context. Through these variations, each space is experienced naturally and seamlessly, merging architecture and environment into one cohesive experience.
