Heritage

Sin Nombre Casa y Galeria Shows A Modern Execution Of Mexican Architecture

July 14, 2022
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By 
Carisa Magno

Near the well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico lies the Sin Nombre Casa y Galeria by Associates Architecture. Specifically located in San Miguel de Allende, the built structure is defined by a monolithic mass covered in lime-based white plaster walls. The architects describe it as, “an introverted inhabited enclosure that hides inside the three microcosms (three patios) of the living area and the sleeping areas, protected within the context of the Mexican city”. The building accommodates Mexico’s vernacular while serving as a modern residence and a space to exhibit the client’s products.

The white plastered monolithic house stands out from the dense urban neighborhood dotted with pastel-washed buildings and colonial facades.

It stands on a sloping 19×12 meters trapezoidal lot with a plinth made of local stone. These parameters determined the method of constructing the house as the team worked around preserving the base while reinterpreting local traditions. Thorough architectural combination and space composition can be seen by the way the building is manifested. The execution is modern yet its monolithic appearance with minimal openings blends well with the similar houses’ composition surrounding it. Mexican architectural style of hidden courtyards was embodied in the building’s design combined with the architects’ modern minimalist style.

The execution resulted in an edifice that slowly reveals itself from being a reticent block from the exterior to finely structured interior spaces enveloped in a monochromatic color palette. The floors, walls, and ceilings are all painted in mellow white providing a flawless display background for the furniture pieces created by the clients.

The entry door is through a small flight of stairs cutting across a small patch of untouched part of the land with a garden of local cactuses and succulents. Upon entrance, the spacious living quarters is immediately revealed. The floor-to-ceiling glazing in this area allows ample ventilation and organic light to flow through the space and create different moods within the day. A sunken fireplace in the living area with built-in cushions in muted colors gives the modern space an added vibe.

Placed at the structure’s core is a spiral staircase harmoniously holding the kitchen, dining, and living areas together. It cuts through the second level, where the private rooms are, up to the rooftop where the 360-degree view of the urban setting is revealed. The second floor poses a different mood where privacy is emphasized along with tranquility. An interesting feature of the main bedroom is a small window opening that artistically frames the dome-shaped church in the distance.

More than the references to Mexico’s local architecture, the design team aimed to showcase the play of light through the Sin Nombre Casa y Galeria. As the architects describe, “the two-story house is designed to celebrate intimacy while at the same time maximizing exposure to natural light. And it achieves this thanks to the patios and a rooftop terrace.”

Photo Credits: Associates Architecture

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