V House by Abraham Cota Paredes Arquitectos

Photographer: César Béjar

The land is located in the limits of a closed condominium, which has a height difference of 8 meters at the back that allows us to release the views to the east of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. To take advantage of the location, the plant plays with a staggered floor plan, making the space expand, as the visitor walks deeper into the house. A large window frames the horizon, but still preserves privacy due to the change of ground levels. In the middle of the field, there’s a patio, which will become the heart of the house, it articulates public and private areas and also brings lighting and ventilation to the house.

In the patio there is a body of water with a tree, which captures light from the south, through some sort of chimney that blends in with the light. A wooden cross reminiscent of Barragan, seems to float in space, framing the patio. The combination of the water, tree and light, fill the space with an aura of serenity. The double height of the 3 levels are concatenated, creating a spatial continuity or fluidity. Upstairs, the master bedroom faces the east of the city.

At the front of the house facing the neighboring houses, two bedrooms united through a balcony are placed, allowing us to correctly orient the windows, protecting them from the heat of the setting sun. Formally the house seeks to be a solid with the least possible subtractions. Two subtractions were generated for the main facade. The first one made up by the main entrance and garage, the second one by the balcony, which in turn opens onto the street and the sky. Upstairs, a cantilevered staircase leads to the terrace, which seeks to preserve the essence of the regional architecture. Contained by walls and a steel structure which in the future will be covered with plants. The terrace opens to the east, allowing you to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Abraham Cota Paredes

Photographer: César Béjar