taller alberto calleja / TAC scatters its breezy ‘casa malandra’ across rural oaxaca

living in oaxaca

nestled among the lush landscape of puerto escondido, this ‘casa malandra’ by taller alberto calleja / TAC takes shape as two offset  volumes. the pair of residential structures defines the configuration and dynamics of this typical patio house, containing part of the existing vegetation, to which we include a natural water space, generating a new microclimate.

both volumes assembled from their structure of concrete walls and wooden facades are connected by a pergola that filters the light from the patio. the long sides extend towards the sea and the mountains, allowing an unlimited dialogue with the territory on all its ventilated faces.

image © marcos calleja | @photovertice

the design by taller alberto calleja

both volumes of the casa malandra by taller alberto calleja / TAC (see more here) host the bedrooms. in between, the team integrates so-called ‘magic spaces,’ or places for gathering. the endemic vegetation is invited to invade these areas, its presence articulating and interconnecting the circulation areas.

the social area is protected by the pitched structure of the palapa roof and the pool accompanies it on its shortest side, establishing an extension of the main room towards the sea. the morphology of the house is consistent with the neighboring houses, maintaining the existing profile, providing continuity to the immediate context of the place.

image © francisco laresgoiti

protecting the ecology of the site

to minimize the environmental impact of the casa malandra, taller alberto calleja protected the entirety of the vegetation found in the area — storing it in a temporary nursery and later transplanting it to the ceilings of the modules. in this way, these plants were given back their space. the team ensured that the plant life was given a visitable position, thus generating a positive impact on the natural air conditioning of the house.

image © onnis luque | @onnisluque_fotografia

image © onnis luque
image © onnis luque

image © onnis luque

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project info:

project title: casa malandra | @casa.malandra

architecture: taller alberto calleja / TAC | @taller_alberto_calleja

location: puerto escondido, mexico
lead architect: alberto calleja
collaboration: luis muñoz, claudette salas, jorge herrero
construction: AIM
structure: hiñigo lopez

photography: © marcos calleja | @photovertice, onnis luque, | @onnisluque_fotografia, francisco laresgoiti