The practice ARKRAFT has designed Casa 13x13, a single-family home oriented inwards, defined by a central, empty courtyard—serving as a spatial organizer, uniting both public and private spaces—that opens to the exterior, allowing light and ventilation to enter and connecting with the other levels of the house.
The connection with the surrounding environment arises from the use of restrained materials that prioritize clarity and continuity between spaces, orienting their openings towards the interior
13x13 House by ARKRAFT. Photograph by Héctor Pineda.
Project description by ARKRAFT
13x13 House is a single-family home located in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, that explores how a clear geometric organization and an introspective spatial strategy can generate a rich domestic experience within a compact scale.
The house is articulated around a central open-air void that functions as a patio, allowing natural light and ventilation, as well as establishing visual connections between the different levels. This void acts as the main spatial organizer, connecting the circulation areas, social spaces, and private areas.
The architecture is defined by a restrained material palette and a precise spatial sequence that prioritizes clarity and continuity between spaces. Instead of relying on large openings to the exterior, the house is oriented inward, using the patio as a controlled space for daily use and environmental interaction.
13x13 House proposes an alternative for contemporary urban housing, demonstrating how a rigorous spatial organization can give rise to a serene and consistent domestic architecture.
