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A box-shaped house that hides minimalist, Zen-like living spaces inspired by Japan.
Located in Morelia, Michoacán, México, Kehai House is a one-of-a-kind residence designed by Rogelio Vallejo Bores, founder of HW Studio. The architect’s own home, the building has an almost spartan, box-like appearance from the exterior, yet houses beautifully simple and serene interiors that give a nod to Japanese design and Zen principles. Guided by Kakuzo Okakura’s words, “the void is absolutely powerful because it can contain everything,” the architect designed the house with seemingly empty spaces that are anything but. The name “kehai” refers to a “slightly ambiguous sign of time”, a concept that invokes the idea of relaxed, stress-free living. The limited budget and Rogelio Vallejo Bores’ path toward Zen led the studio to focus on simplicity, clarity and purposeful design.
Unusually, the front door leads downward. A practical decision that reduced the costs of the foundation, this choice also has a spiritual layer. Descending into the living spaces requires a sense of humility, similarly to the act of entering a temple. At the heart of the house, a stone garden with two floating wooden platforms encourages the residents to remain still, reflect and feel. This space may have a Zen-like atmosphere, but it also organizes the living spaces. On one side of the garden, there’s the living room. On the other, the kitchen and dining space. Wooden platforms surround the stone garden and connect the two sides; open to the sky, they invite residents and guests to become closer to nature. On the upper level, the minimalist bedroom boasts one of the few glass openings in the entire house: a circular window that overlooks a tree.
Like the rest of the residence, the material palette is minimalist. HW Studio used dark wood to contrast the pristine white walls, with gravel and natural stone adding texture to the quiet design. Rice paper shōji doors slide open to connect areas or close to separate them; their fine texture and subtle transparency filter the light to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Photography© César Béjar, Gustavo Quiroz.
