estudio carroll's 'toro house' embraces oaxacan coast with arches and ocean views

toro house: passive design in mexico

Architecture practice Estudio Carroll completes this Toro House for a couple seeking a dwelling along the Oaxacan coast. The design team notes that its process was driven as a response to the ever-rising global temperatures, noting the growing responsibility of architects to bring to life energy-efficient buildings. The Toro House, although built of concrete, is designed to perform sustainably. It is situated in La Barra, a region known for its dramatic terrain. This very characteristic presented a unique opportunity. The house is positioned at an elevation that grants panoramic views of both the ocean and the mountains. This context calls for large openings, which lends passive cooling strategies.

image © Cesar Belio

estudio carroll shapes the house with circular forms

The architects at Estudio Carroll design the Toro House with a geometry informed by the land’s form. The team employs two intersecting circles with identical radii, where the center of one circle coincides with the curvature of the other. Two squares inscribed within these circles accommodate the majority of the residence’s functional areas. The resulting form translates into two interconnected cylindrical volumes constructed from vibrant blue concrete, reminiscent of the ocean’s hues. This envelope features strategically placed cylindrical openings facing all four cardinal points. These large openings lead to open interiors naturally cooled by sea breezes.

Estudio Carroll designs the Toro House with energy efficiency as a guiding principle | image © Cesar Belio

adaptable architecture for breezy interiors

Estudio Carroll encloses the Toro House with large sliding screens crafted from wooden strips. These operable screens define the interior spaces while promoting a versatile element that blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors. Living areas and bedrooms can be transformed into terraces, and the dining room opens broadly onto the pool. The adaptable layout, which can open up entire sections of the house, lends an interactive flow between spaces and fosters a connection between the residents and the surrounding nature. 

The connection with nature is furthered by the material selection, which is locally-sourced, with elements crafted by the community. The sea, sand, and plant-life served as the primary inspiration for the project’s material palette. The rustic blue concrete echoes the ocean’s tones, while the arches evoke crashing waves against the sand-colored chukum floors and walls. Macuil wood screens stand tall like a protective forest, offering shade from the sun.

the house is located in La Barra, Puerto Escondido, and ennjoys ocean and mountain views | image © Victor Morales
the vibrant blue concrete exterior evokes the ocean’s hues | image © Richard Stow

sliding screens create an adaptable design that blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors | image © Richard Stow

the house is designed to take advantage of natural ventilation | image © Richard Stow

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image © Cesar Belio

image © Cesar Belio

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

image © Richard Stow

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

project title: Toro House (Casa Toro)

architecture: Estudio Carroll | @estudiocarroll

location: Puerto Escondido, Mexico

lead architects: Miguel Carroll
civil engineer: Manuel Altamirano
area: 250 square meters
completion: 2023
photography: © Cesar Belio, Victor Morales, Richard Stow