PPAA Completes Twin Forest Houses in Mexico Using Minimalist Design
The Rejas project utilizes mass timber and concrete to prioritize forest regeneration over expansion.
1Architectural Philosophy of Restraint
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados recently completed the Rejas project in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Comprising two 500-square-metre houses, the design serves as a deliberate argument for building less. By choosing to regenerate native forest rather than installing fences, the studio prioritized landscape preservation over traditional suburban property boundaries and expansive construction.
2Topography and Structural Integration
The 1.2-acre site features a steep slope descending toward the Avándaro reservoir. PPAA anchored the structures into the terrain using concrete and local stone bases, making them appear as single-storey buildings from the driveway. As the land drops, the lower levels emerge, effectively blending the architecture into the natural forest floor.
3Material Palette and Tension
The project juxtaposes heavy stone and concrete bases with lightweight glued-laminated timber roofs. This material choice creates a functional tension between protection and openness. The studio emphasizes that this combination is not merely aesthetic but a proposition on how to inhabit space, distinguishing between what belongs to the ground and the air.
4Internal Layout and Functionality
Each house features an identical plan with public spaces located on the upper level. A glass box houses the kitchen, dining, and living areas, opening onto a covered terrace with outdoor cooking facilities. Below, five bedrooms and a private lounge area are nestled within the forest, providing a cool, contained living environment.
5Privacy Through Spatial Design
The stepped arrangement of the floors ensures privacy between the two dwellings. By carefully positioning windows and openings, PPAA eliminated any direct sightlines between the houses. This configuration allows each family to maintain a unique relationship with the surrounding nature, operating as if the other house did not exist on the plot.
6Optimizing Site Usage
To maximize the central forest area, the architects moved all service functions into separate, detached buildings located along the property edge. This strategic decision clears the center of the plot, allowing the landscape to reclaim the space between the two primary residences and fostering a more immersive, natural living experience for residents.
7Evolution of PPAA Portfolio
While historically recognized for concrete-heavy construction, PPAA is increasingly incorporating mass timber into their designs. This shift is evident in recent projects, including a rotating cross-laminated timber pavilion in Mexico City and the country's first all-wood mass timber structure in Querétaro, signaling a broader evolution in the firm's sustainable construction methodology.
8Impact of Minimalist Construction
The Rejas project challenges the trend of overbuilding in the Avándaro region. By limiting the footprint and focusing on forest regeneration, the architects demonstrate that high-end residential projects can coexist with nature. The project stands as a case study for future developments seeking to balance human habitation with environmental conservation efforts.
Original article: Dezeen — PPAA Completes Twin Forest Houses in Mexico Using Minimalist Design