CASA CALA
2024
Interior Design
Set within the semi-arid highlands near Tequisquiapan, Casa Cala emerges as a family retreat rooted in the traditions of Mexican courtyard living. The house sits on an enclosed plot with no possibilities for outward openings, which shaped its defining gesture: turning the architecture inwards.
A sequence of interior patios and hallways brings light and ventilation deep into the plan, echoing the spirit of old haciendas where life unfolds around gardens. Six bedrooms, each tailored to a family member of different ages, are arranged around these voids, creating a rhythm of private and communal spaces. The result is a house that transforms fluidly, hallways open or close to grant intimacy, doors retract to merge the common room with the terrace, and spaces adapt depending on the rituals of its inhabitants.
Materials such as brick walls, chukum finishes, marble floors, pine roofs, and exposed steel beams establish a palette of permanence and quiet character. The neutral tones frame the natural landscape and vineyards beyond, while the flat horizontal roofs echo the openness of the surrounding plains.
More than a weekend house, Casa Cala is a sanctuary for gathering: serene, adaptive, and deeply attuned to the rhythms of family life.
PROJECT TYPE
Residential — Countryside retreat residence.
DETAILS
The design of Casa Cala followed an intimate and collaborative process:
- Engaging closely with the family to understand their diverse needs and rituals.
- Confronting the challenge of an enclosed lot with no perimeter openings.
- Starting from the inside out: developing the concept around interior gardens and patios.
- Crafting unique rooms for each family member across a wide range of ages.
- Designing flexible communal areas that adapt to different uses and moments.
Embarking on our first commission as a studio, setting the tone for future projects.
