In the northwestern suburbs of Mexico City, directly on the street, a minimal yet tactile facade of white clay brick and exposed concrete is punctuated by an ironwork gate. Behind this unassuming facade, brick forms open onto relaxing patios and courtyards, providing a family of five with a place of refuge within the bustling city. In a way, it’s its own escape.

“The clients found that being able to live a life abroad without having to leave home was not bad at all,” jokes architect Sergio Portillo, founder of his studio by the same name. “They told me, ‘We feel sheltered and free at the same time.’”

Casa Mika comprises two main volumes in white brick—Portillo describes the brick as “sober and clean”—that are separated into private and public spaces by internal courtyards. The structural elements are concealed inside double walls, so the entire home appears to be made completely of brick.

One volume contains the public areas and is located closer to the main street, while another holds the private sleeping areas and is positioned to the rear, offering the residents privacy and quiet as needed. Connecting the two volumes is a bridge. “This works as a transitional element, while providing transparency and allowing access to the lushly vegetated patios,” says Portillo.

Entering from the street, the home opens directly into a garden with a pond that collects rainwater. The garden divides the garage from an access corridor, which leads to an interior lobby clad in floor-to-ceiling oak lattices that filter light. Like the facade, the lattices offer a hint at the tactile, natural material palette to come. The service areas, living and dining rooms, and kitchen are also located on the ground floor of the first volume.

“The patios relate directly to the interior of the house, creating spaces for contemplation, dispersion, or coexistence.”
—Sergio Portillo, architect

A central patio connects the dining room and living room with the terrace—one of the Portillo’s favorite elements of the home. “Where everything else in Casa Mika is synthesized, the patio is a space that acquired natural beauty,” says the architect. “The connection of exterior and interior, the existence of abundant vegetation, the entrance of natural light to the spaces, and the visual relationship that exists throughout the house.”

The second volume is split over two levels. The ground floor features a second living room, a study, and guest bedroom, while the upper floor has three bedrooms overlooking the rear garden and central courtyard. “The patios relate directly to the interior of the house, creating spaces for contemplation, dispersion, or coexistence,” says Portillo. “Each interior is linked with its immediate exterior, giving each space a distinctive feature.”

The white clay brick brings a unique character to the home while also responding to the region’s climatic conditions. It regulates interior temperatures throughout the day, and at night, releases heat collected by the building. The brick also pairs nicely with the rest of the palette, fleshed out with oak joinery, ironwork, and exposed concrete.

“We were very fortunate to have the clients involved throughout the design process, which was enriching and motivated us to develop more complex but also better proposals,” reveals Portillo. “Today, they are happy in the house. And, making Casa Mika was a lot of fun.”

Ground floor plan of Casa Mika by Arquitectura Sergio Portillo" layout="wide" credit="ASP Arquitectura Sergio Portillo" photoUserId=""/>

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Arquitectura Sergio Portillo / @asp_mx

Builder: Diseño Lineal SA. de CV.

Structural & Civil Engineer: Edificación integral SA de CV

Landscape Design Company: PA-AR Taller / @paar_taller

Lighting Design: ASP Arquitectura Sergio Portillo

Interior Design: ASP Arquitectura Sergio Portillo

Cabinetry Design: Rodolfo Hernández Valencia

Photographer: César Béjar Studio / @cesarbejarstudio & Rafael Gamo / @rafaelgamo