Giant windows puncture this white concrete apartment building in Mexico City, which Mexican firm Taller Héctor Barroso designed as a home for siblings.
The project, called Sierra Mimbres, is located in the western part of the city, in the Las Lomas neighbourhood.
It was designed for a trio of brothers with different needs and desires, resulting in the creation of three distinct apartments within a single tall building.
The project was envisioned by local studio Taller Héctor Barroso, whose portfolio includes projects such as the caramel-coloured LC710 apartment complex in the Colonia del Valle district and the white concrete S House, which is arranged around a shallow pool.
The four-storey Sierra Mimbres house rises up from an angled site measuring 15 by 17 metres. Composed of rectilinear volumes, the building was constructed atop the foundations of a demolished home. The team's goal was to use the existing footprint as best as possible, while also providing views of the landscape.
"The intention of the project was to respect its position and orientation, re-taking its structural axis and emphasising the view toward the glen," the team said in a project description.
White concrete, steel and wood were used for the exterior walls – materials chosen for their durability and minimal need for maintenance. Large stretches of glass provide views while bringing in ample natural light.
In total, the building encompasses 1,355 square metres.
Two units with nearly identical layouts were placed on the ground and first floors. The apartments contain a public zone, along with a master suite and an additional bedroom.
The third apartment occupies the second floor plus a rooftop volume – a glazed pavilion offering "magnificent 180-degree views of the city", the team said.
Rooms are modern yet cosy, owing to the use of earthy materials, soft textures and views of greenery. Stucco walls, laminated wood floors and oak cabinetry further enhance the warm and relaxed atmosphere.
Throughout the building, balconies and terraces provide opportunities for relaxing outside and taking in the scenery. At ground level, the home is surrounded by lush vegetation and a protective fence.
Other homes in Mexico City include a board-marked concrete dwelling by PPAA Arquitectos, an abode made of mud bricks and teak wood by DCPP, and a courtyard home by Taller Paralelo that was formerly an abandoned building.
Photography is by Rafael Gamo, unless stated otherwise.
Project credits:
Architecture firm: Taller Héctor Barroso
Architect: Héctor Barroso
Team: Vianney Watine, Eduardo Carbajal, Diego Rentería