APT arquitectura para todos: equestrian center in cuernavaca
a combination of simple powerful geometries, local materials and labor create a contemporary vernacular designed for use by horses.
‘equestrian center in cuernavaca’ by APT arquitectura para todos, cuernavaca, mexicoimage © luis gordoaall images courtesy of APT arquitectura para todos
replacing a a two-hectare agricultural plot of land at the highest point of cuernavaca, the ‘equestrian center’ horse club by mexican practice APTarquitectura para todos (architecture for all) finds itself amidst a forest of local pine trees with an architecture that reflects the memory of the place. nested into a sloping site, a series of stone retaining walls, ramps, and stairs connect a stepped plan organized over three tiers. concrete and reclaimed wood members define the utilitarian geometries that directly reflect the form of the structure. reining at the top of the hill are the stables, storage rooms, harness rooms and administrative offices inside parallel timber volumes with an open-air stone courtyard in between that becomes a ramp down to the track – an equestrian promenade. the middle level contains the social spaces used mainly by spectators and include a coffee shop, outdoor terraces, bathrooms and changing rooms. the lowest area contains the dirt arena, service and grooming areas, paddocks, and competition stables. aesthetically echoing simple powerful geometries and terraced construction of the region, the project also takes on another layer of sustainability by using a combination of locally sourced materials and labor, rainwater harvesting, biologically filtering grey water for irrigation, LED lighting and solar cells, along with earth-based paints used in the interior.
stepped terraces for viewingimage © luis gordoa
natural stone retaining walls (wet walls)image © luis gordoa
central ramp for horse circulation into stablesimage © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
overhanging concrete roof provides shade for horsesimage © luis gordoa
central drinking fountainimage © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
natural wood stables from reclaimed form work lumberimage © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
side stairsimage © luis gordoa
leading to officesimage © luis gordoa
soft wood textures and concealed windowsimage © luis gordoa
movable components at the officesimage © luis gordoa
coffee shop seating areaimage © luis gordoa
image © luis gordoa
retaining walls and concrete steps balanced by natural wood planksimage © luis gordoa
natural roadway to the upper levelimage © luis gordoa
view from the street entranceimage © luis gordoa
entry gateimage © luis gordoa
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
floor plan / level 2
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concept sketch
section concept
project info:
name: hípico del bosquearchitectural design: lilian rebollo uribecollaborating team: edgar saúl bahena cruzstructural engineering: víctor escobar lagunasconstruction: apt arquitectura para todos / vicente barragán hernándezsite area: 19,289.50m2built area: 844.00m2year of construction: 2011location: cuernavaca, morelos, méxicophotography: luis gordoa
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