Casa Solena
Casa Solena arises from the idea of utilizing all the available land in a virtually untouched area in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, surrounded by nature and with direct access to the sea.
In response to this, the project is designed in various volumes of 1 and 2 levels, allowing the segmentation of the required program, thereby preventing its scale from competing with the natural habitat.
To complement the integration into the context, materials and colors that harmoniously adapt to the surroundings are used, standing out for their textures and earthy tones.
The structure of the volumes, composed of rigid masonry frames, governs the final volumetrics of the different spaces, offering sequence and rhythm. This, in turn, creates a play between interior and exterior spaces in each volume, maximizing views from the terraces and ensuring privacy in the private spaces.
This project, completed in 18 months, has a positive impact on its environment by integrating into the context and boosting the local economy by promoting eco-tourism.
The project is intended for tourists visiting the city of Puerto Escondido for short stays, families, or social groups, who can connect with nature, sharing moments in a pleasant and restful place that allows them to disconnect from the daily routines of urban life.
Throughout the project, the aim is to create warm environments that maintain constant contact with the surroundings. Pathways are designed to weave between the volumes and vegetation, framing the best views of the place. Private spaces are understood as cozy areas with natural lighting and cross ventilation, surrounded by terraces that allow the user to always establish a direct connection with nature.
On the other hand, the public space adopts a broader scale and creates an atmosphere of relaxation and contemplation by offering a panoramic view of the sea. Life in this project unfolds in an environment that fosters tranquility and serenity, facilitating the user to disconnect from their worries.
The architectural program consists of 6 modules distributed along the property according to their function.
The first volume is the service area, located at the entrance of the property and as far away as possible from the 7 bedrooms, distributed in 4 other modules, which are arranged along the land to offer views towards the vegetation of Puerto Escondido.
The last module, the central space of the project, is the public area, which promotes interaction in different spaces and allows users to engage in various activities while always being in contact with nature.
This volume, completely open, has a direct view of the beach and includes a closed kitchen, a sunken living room, a dining room, a sitting area, and a volume that includes bathrooms, a storage room, and a laundry room.
Between this area and the beach extends the infinity pool with jacuzzi and fire pit along the entire property.
The structure of the different volumes consists of a foundation of continuous concrete footings. It features rigid frames of pigmented exposed concrete as the main structure and wooden beams as the secondary structure. It includes masonry walls with concrete reinforcements.
As for the finishes, chukum plaster is used for the walls, while tropical wood is used for the window frames, doors, and beams.
The use of laminated Red Grandis wood (Eucalyptus grandis) is fundamental in this project, playing a crucial role in several aspects. It is used on the facades to add a play of materials, integrated into the interiors in the ceilings and beams, and chosen for all the window frames and doors. This choice allows for the creation of a warm environment that merges with the surroundings, as well as the ability to age optimally, being adapted to humid climates with high temperatures.
For the floors, large format beige porcelain tile is used for private spaces, and decks made of the same type of tropical wood for public spaces.
The service volume has an exclusively chukum finish, avoiding wood. This decision is made to clearly distinguish this space from the others.
The choice of this material palette is carried out with the aim of achieving cohesion in the design, using options that facilitate maintenance and allow the project to integrate into the surroundings, creating warm spaces that improve the quality of life for its inhabitants.
The firm’s favorite detail is the way the concrete frames contain the wooden elements such as slabs, floors, and ceilings, creating contrast in each volume. The main strength of the project lies in the fluid integration between interior and exterior in each space.
This gives the user the possibility to enjoy moments of privacy, away from nature, or to interact directly with it in a warm and comfortable environment.
The project has significant sustainable qualities, seeking to leave the largest amount of green areas to avoid affecting the natural terrain of the site and using clean energy alternatives.
Because the project is located away from the more populated areas of the region, and due to the climatic conditions, rainwater harvesting systems and photovoltaic panels are implemented to make the project off-grid or energy self-sustainable.
A very important aspect for the project is the use of vegetation and landscaping, integrating the green context that surrounds the land into every corner of the complex.
Spaces at ground level are designed to be completely surrounded by vegetation, and spaces on the second level have planters along the entire perimeter of the terraces to achieve the same effect. Species that adapt well to a tropical area, such as palm trees, different types of palms, birds of paradise, cacti, among others, are sought. The project has 65% green area.
The green areas are designed to grow organically, leaving paths between them to create the main walkways of the project. The terraces are at ground level and elevated around the bedrooms, always surrounded by vegetation.
The firm always seeks to maintain a constant rhythm and symmetry in the projects, as well as sober designs resulting from an integration between interior and exterior, structure and facade. Additionally, architecture is always integrated with landscaping as a distinctive mark.
This project makes us proud, as it is different from the projects, we are used to doing due to the location and the conditions of the land and the area. We believe it is a project that adapts to a virtually untouched area of Puerto Escondido. We managed to create spaces and environments that will allow the user to enjoy a place away from the city.
