Casa Zirahuen is the first stage of a two twin house project that create a small dwelling in a residential area in Querétaro’s periphery. Facing the residential monotony in typology and isolation of the area generated between the 7 meters high adjoining walls, the proposal’s idea based on shaping a different integration to the site, one that dignifies and offers better ways of living in its outside and inside space.
Some of the principal challenges to solve were to create a product that makes use of passive design strategies, local constructive methods and a commercial competitive scheme which is sensitive to a complex real estate context. The house works around a main guiding axis that splits and distributes the public program in ground oor and the private program in first level. The use of a central patio works as a natural lantern that articulates and ventilates, a witness to the house’s everyday life.
The design of the project is thought to be versatile enough in order to adapt to user’s needs. The study of areas and proportion of living spaces, added to the rational constructive modulation gives the home the option of a exible and controlled growth (spanned in stages to equip the house with 2 to 4 bedrooms, optional TV/family room and additional outside spaces). The exposed materials reveal its constructive honesty, the polished concrete and bare brick re ect the quality of artistry and craftsmanship the region has to offer. Its textures and tones respond to a natural palette found in the local area, Querétaro’s semi-desert context.
