cut out patios add green pops into cota paredes arquitectos' house in mexico

unveiling stereotomic la piedad by cota paredes arquitectos

sited on an elongated site in michoacán, méxico, ‘la piedad’ is a residential project designed by cota paredes arquitectos for a family with children. the structure emerges as a sculpture, wrapping itself in an introspective architecture, where the relationship between the interior and the exterior exists but is not completely evident. its stereotomic structure was derived from the need to solve ventilation and lighting, within a plot whose length exceeds width (35 by 10 meters) and has an inclination of three meters. all images courtesy of césar béjar

la piedad’s interior outstands by its simplicity and fluidity

the project arises from the basement, offering its owners a social area where their children can play, interact and reflect, all the while having their privacy. the design team at cota paredes arquitectos cut out the structure to form three patios, adding green pops of color into to otherwise white interior. simultaneously, the patios divide the house into public and private areas. the architects proposed two gardens, one in the back which in turn responds to the restrictions of the subdivision, and the other in the center, generating a social area that is surrounded by greens. in the central patio, a large ficus pandurata tree is planted, which grows filling the void whose crown extends and emerges in the living room-kitchen area, providing a piece of exterior nature to the interior of the house.

as for the spatial arrangement, the house is divided into two areas. the private zone faces the back of the land and the social area takes shape at the front. the upper level accommodates only one service space, providing the living room, dining room, and kitchen area with double height. this mezzanine level looks towards the two patios, the central one with the large tree and in front towards a potted patio that filters the views towards the street. meanwhile, the front facade is clad in a large screen wall that protects from the views and the rays of the setting sun.

bringing green touches into the house

the elongated proportion of the land suggested ventilation and illumination through three patios

prioritizing simplicity

large sliding doors extend the living space

sunlight tackles into the house

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project info:

name: la piedad
designer: cotaparedes arquitectos

location: la piedad, michoacán, méxico

completion: 2020

photography: césar béjar

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom