PPAA Completes Twin Forest Houses in Mexico Using Timber and Concrete
The Rejas project prioritizes forest regeneration over traditional fencing to minimize environmental impact.
1Project Overview and Philosophy
Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados completed the Rejas project, featuring two 500-square-metre houses in the forests of Valle de Bravo. Designed for two brothers, the structures serve as a deliberate argument for building less. The studio prioritized regenerating the native forest over constructing physical barriers, allowing the landscape to reclaim the architectural footprint.
2Site Strategy and Topography
Located on a 1.2-acre sloped property in Avándaro, the houses are partially submerged into the terrain. From the driveway, they appear as single-storey structures, but the lower levels emerge as the land descends toward the reservoir. This design anchors the buildings into the slope while maintaining a low profile within the forest.
3Materiality and Structural Design
The houses utilize a minimalist palette of concrete and local stone for the base, providing mass and solidity. Glued-laminated timber forms the roofs, creating a structural contrast between the heavy base and the lighter, open upper levels. This combination aims to balance protection with openness, allowing the architecture to breathe within the trees.
4Interior Layout and Functionality
Public spaces, including the kitchen, dining, and living areas, are housed in a glass box on the upper level. A covered terrace with outdoor cooking facilities extends this space. Below, five bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a lounge area are nestled into the forest floor, providing a cool, private, and contained environment.
5Privacy Through Spatial Arrangement
The studio utilized a stepped arrangement in both plan and section to ensure privacy between the two dwellings. By carefully positioning windows and openings, PPAA eliminated any direct sightlines between the houses. Each residence establishes an independent relationship with the surrounding nature, functioning as if the other building did not exist.
6Service Area Integration
To maintain the focus on the central landscape and the relationship between the two main houses, service areas were separated. These utility zones are placed along the edge of the property. This strategic placement clears the center of the plot, reinforcing the studio's commitment to minimizing the built impact on the site.
7Evolution of PPAA Portfolio
While historically recognized for heavy concrete construction, PPAA is increasingly incorporating mass timber into its designs. Recent projects include a rotating cross-laminated timber pavilion in Mexico City and the country's first all-wood mass timber structure in Querétaro. This shift reflects the firm's growing interest in sustainable, lighter construction methods and material innovation.
8Architectural Intent and Legacy
The studio emphasizes that the tension between the stone base and timber roof is not merely an aesthetic choice. It represents a proposition on how to inhabit space, distinguishing between what protects and what opens. Ultimately, the project challenges conventional building practices by advocating for a more restrained and landscape-conscious approach.