green pigmented concrete facades sculpt casa gruta in yucatán, mexico

Geological Formations Inspire Casa gruta’s Architecture

Located in the Sisal neighborhood of Valladolid, Yucatán, Casa Gruta is an architectural project designed by architects Salvador Román Hernández and Adela Mortera Villarreal. The design explores perception, scale, and materiality through an architectural and sculptural approach that evokes the feeling of a shelter, reminiscent of a cave. The residential project invites reflection on the passage of time and the relationship between the ephemeral and the eternal through the interplay of light and shadow and the dialogue between new and pre-existing structures.

Conceived as a contemporary habitable sculpture, the house draws inspiration from the geological formations characteristic of the Yucatán Peninsula, such as caves, grottoes, and cenotes. Its materiality is rooted in the colors and textures found in these natural environments. The facades are made of greenish-gray pigmented concrete, which shifts in saturation throughout the day as sunlight changes, creating a dynamic atmosphere. In contrast, natural cedar wood elements reference the local vegetation, while golden metal accents evoke the minerals present in the earth.

all images by Fabian Martinez

Light, Shadow, and Nature inform Casa gruta’s Spatial design

The house’s design by architects Salvador Román Hernández and Adela Mortera Villarreal takes cues from cenotes and caves, where tunnels, vaults, and open spaces guide the sensory experience of the user. Spaces expand and contract, offering varied sensations throughout the journey. The entrance is marked by an álamo tree, which in Yucatán traditionally indicates the presence of underground formations. This leads to an open-air vestibule featuring a body of water, an installation by Andrés Briceño, inspired by Maya rituals performed before entering a cenote.

A tunnel extends from this vestibule to the main distribution area of the house. The first space encountered is a bedroom with a private patio, an outdoor shower, and a water feature. As the journey continues, the tunnel opens into a communal area that includes the living room, dining area, and kitchen, all beneath a hammered concrete vaulted ceiling. This space culminates in a large cylindrical volume housing a staircase that leads to the rooftop, an open recreational space with a viewing platform for appreciating the surrounding landscape. On the ground floor, the house includes two additional bedrooms. One, more secluded, features a contemplative patio with sculptures and vegetation. The main bedroom, the largest, opens onto an interior patio with a cylindrical water feature, alongside a pre-existing tree that casts intricate patterns of light and shadow. Casa Gruta serves as a retreat that encourages introspection and reflection on the fast pace of contemporary life, offering a space for contemplation and a deeper connection with time.

Casa Gruta, located in Valladolid, Yucatán, is designed as a habitable sculpture inspired by natural formations

the project explores perception, scale, and materiality through an architectural approach reminiscent of a cave

light and shadow interact throughout the space, creating a dialogue between the ephemeral and the eternal

the entrance is marked by an álamo tree, a traditional sign of underground formations in Yucatán

the house draws from Yucatán’s caves, grottoes, and cenotes, integrating organic qualities into the design

greenish-gray pigmented concrete facades shift in tone throughout the day, responding to changes in sunlight

natural cedar wood elements complement the surrounding vegetation, enhancing the material contrast

two bedrooms on the ground floor integrate private patios with vegetation and sculptural elements

the largest bedroom opens onto an interior patio featuring a cylindrical water feature and a pre-existing tree

project info:

name: Casa Gruta
architects: Salvador Roman | @chavaroman, Adela Mortera | @adelamortera
location: Sisal, Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico

photographer: Fabian Martinez | @fabianml

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom