On a gently sloping lot in the middle of a pine forest at the northern edge of Cuernavaca, Mexico, is a family compound with a recent addition conceptualized by local architect Alfredo Raymundo Cano Briceño of T3arc. Linked to the 1,300-square-foot main house by a glass-covered footbridge, the addition, which measures just under 500 square feet, includes three bedrooms and one bathroom for the children, Santiago, Mariano, and Natalia, who range in age from three to eight. Working within a tight budget for owners Fernando and Geny, Cano repurposed pine he had used as framework for previous projects, and covered the exterior with protective clear plastic panels he retrieved from an industrial landfill. Cano says the structure fits well with the surrounding eclectic architecture, which ranges from traditional brick and Spanish colonial–style houses to the postmodern style of the main house. “Mexico’s diversity of architecture makes a perfect disorder,” he says.
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Erika Heet Cano implemented small windows on one side of the addition to protect from cold north winds, and extended an existing retaining wall with rocks found onsite, upon which he anchored the foundation. To protect the structure from the humidity, Cano completely clad it in recycled plastic panels. Load-bearing framing beams are visible through the horizontal window. Photo courtesy
wow!!. incredible and intelligent use of a ready made (the wooden slats). i think it is a very good architectural project in all the way, from the economical factor through the aesthetic result. congratulations!!!
Love the stone and wood colors that compliment one another. Very nice.
Always, when I see this type of construction, how long it will look great. Wood over time warps, fades, cracks, shrinks. Is there a specific treatment to overcome these ongoing problems with wood. But do love this type of construction, just not sure I would want to deal with maintenace issues.
Wallisp the problems you speak of are from bad design. You can look at covered bridges, barns and even furniture that have stood the test of time. A simple roof with adequate overhangs to keep the water off goes a long ways. Depending on species its okay for wood to get wet it needs to be able to dry out so that mold and mildew do not form. The type of joinery that is used needs to be considered, will it allow for the movement of the wood, is the joinery used the best suited for the application? Maintenance should also be considered in the design process wood can be left natural as seen here. Wood is renewable the original green build product. This simple walkway reminds me of covered bridges and how I would climb all over their framework and study the construction, Thanks for sharing, Joe Breznick
I enjoy this project verry much. !
We hope it will last until the kids are gone to university!!!!! ....... visit www.t3arc.com
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