In a vast forest area in Valle de Bravo, two hours from Mexico City, Taller Héctor Barroso has built ‘Entre Pinos’ or ‘Between The Pine Trees‘, a group of five vacation houses harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape.
The residences are built out of local materials and have been shaped into a seemingly abstract yet thoughtfully composed cluster of terracotta blocks that seem to have sprung organically out of the earth.
Each house is designed by using a combination of six volumes complemented by a void, or central patio. The patio integrates the natural landscape within the space while granting views, silence, and intimacy for the residents of the home. The volumes remain solid and closed to the north, yet open on the south side to the surrounding garden and forest. the sculpted volumes are positioned to maximize natural light, and panoramic views.
Occupying the ground floor, the communal spaces are clustered around a central terrace on the back that the living and dining rooms open onto. The terrace, along with a reflecting pool and a landscaped garden, acts as an intermediary zone between the interior spaces and the forest while the staggered position of the residences safeguards the occupants’ privacy and forges stronger ties with nature. On the upper floor, three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms enjoy sweeping views of the majestic pines while a fourth bedroom occupies a separate block on the ground level.
Apart from providing far-reaching views of the forest, the south-facing glazing also allows solar penetration that during the winter provides passive heating, part of a comprehensive sustainable design that also includes the use of thermal mass for cooling and heating, and the sourcing of local materials, namely bricks, wood, and soil.
