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Vernacular architecture and the beauty of the Oaxacan coast have inspired the design of Casa Caimán, a pigmented concrete house built between the sea and a lagoon.
Part of a complex of different structures that include villas, a restaurant and a beach club, along with other houses, Casa Caimán is beautifully designed to create a dialogue with the coastal landscape of Santa María Colotepec in Oaxaca, México. Bloqe arquitectura drew inspiration from both vernacular architecture and the Oaxacan coastline to design the house, using organic forms and traditional materials to naturally nestle the building between the lagoon and the sea.
Each of the houses in the complex features a similar layout: two volumes placed on either side of a central axis. This passageway serves as a connecting space between the public and the private wings. Platforms at different heights raise the living spaces to maximize the views while mirroring the horizontal character of the coastal setting. Lattice screens made of tzalám wood filter the light and also allow the breeze to flow through into the private areas. The residents can open the screens to connect the bedrooms to the landscape. A large, covered terrace houses both a lounge space and an al fresco dining area.
The architecture firm used a material palette with simple and humble materials that not only give a nod to tradition but also age with grace. Apart from warmly pigmented concrete that softly changes with the light throughout the day, the team also used tzalám wood for the lattice screens, dried palm leaves for the palapa roofs, and tactile travertine marble for the floors, including the terrace. Finally, Casa Caimán is energy efficient thanks to the passive building techniques and carefully designed spaces that optimize natural ventilation. The lattice screens and palapas also ensure the rooms stay comfortable even in scorching heat. On this project, Bloqe arquitectura collaborated with Maria Fernanda Tar from MAHTE, who completed the interior design. Photography© Rafael Gamo.
