# Casa Amona: COLAR's Courtyard-Focused Residential Design in Mexico Mexican architecture collective reinterprets urban living through interior-focused spatial connections. - **Source:** [ArchDaily Global](https://brifing.si/source/b856ce4a-b51b-4705-954b-40620e034caa) - **Published:** 2026-09-22 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d85e7c84-0fbf-43e2-8adc-bd0777205f06 ## Urban context integration The 155m² residence occupies a lot adjacent to one of San Cristóbal de las Casas' primary green areas. Designed by COLAR Colectivo de Arquitectura led by Santiago Constantino De Angoitia, the project deliberately minimizes street-facing elements, instead directing attention inward. This approach reflects the studio's philosophy of creating private urban oases that maintain contextual awareness while preserving residential intimacy. ## Spatial organization strategy Multiple courtyards and carefully positioned openings create layered visual relationships between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape. The design team including Maximiliano Animas Rueda and Mateo Torres Sánchez employed this strategy to dissolve boundaries between built and natural environments. Structural engineering by Virgilio Dominguez supports these spatial interventions while Terruño Paisaje handled landscape integration. ## Material selection Primary materials include wood and brick, chosen for their textural qualities and regional appropriateness. These materials complement the project's emphasis on visual permeability and tactile experience. The material palette supports the architectural concept of restrained street presence while allowing rich interior spatial experiences, as documented in Ariadna Polo's photographs. ## Program distribution Living areas orient toward the property's interior, with openings strategically placed to frame views of courtyards and beyond. This arrangement creates a sequence of connected yet distinct spatial experiences. The design demonstrates how medium-density urban housing can maintain privacy while establishing visual continuity with its surroundings. ## Design team approach COLAR Colectivo's multidisciplinary team included Roberto Marroquín Polín for design development and Priscila Aguilar for technical drawings. Their collaborative process resulted in a residence that balances architectural precision with organic spatial flow. The project showcases the collective's ability to translate conceptual ideas into built form while addressing practical urban constraints. ## Contextual responsiveness The design responds to San Cristóbal de las Casas' unique urban character, where traditional architecture meets contemporary needs. By mediating between street and landscape, the house establishes a new paradigm for residential design in the area. This approach reflects growing trends in Mexican architecture that prioritize environmental integration over ostentation. ## Visual documentation Ariadna Polo's photographic documentation captures the project's interplay of light, material, and space. The images reveal how the architects used openings to create dynamic interior conditions throughout the day. This visual record demonstrates the success of the design's spatial sequencing and material choices in actual use. ## Urban residential innovation Casa Amona represents a thoughtful contribution to contemporary Mexican residential architecture. Its courtyard-focused organization offers an alternative to conventional urban housing layouts. The project demonstrates how careful site planning and spatial choreography can enhance living quality in medium-density contexts while maintaining strong connections to place. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.archdaily.com/1185522/casa-amona-colar-colectivo-de-arquitectura — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._