A Central Courtyard Brings Light Into Every Corner of This Crisp Home in Mexico

Local firm MRV Taller cleverly cloistered Casa Navarro from the outside world, arranging its plan around a lush, outdoor refuge.

Text by

Daisy Zuckerman

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Project Details:

Location: Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, Mexico

Architect: MRV Taller / @mrvtaller

Footprint: 2,980 square feet

From the Architect: "Casa Navarro arises from the need for a vacation space that in the future will become the home of a family of five in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco. The house functions as a link to the clients’ family and friends; it is proposed as a meeting place, as well as a space for rest and introspection. The architectural part of the house emerges from the idea of a shelter isolated from the outside.

"A large central courtyard accompanied by a second lateral courtyard leads the light to each space of the building. One travels through the house along long corridors topped by visual axes that guide the view from one end to the other. Circulating through it, the user is compressed and expanded while discovering each space of the house. Natural lighting filters into every corner of the building, small domes filter zenithal light into the bathrooms, the penumbra in these spaces creates a cool and relaxing atmosphere that contrasts with the abundant natural light in the rest of the house. The two social areas (terrace and first floor) are connected through the courtyards. Simple materials are used to complement each other and give warmth and freshness to the different areas that make up Casa Navarro.

"Since the building is not inhabited most of the time, a modest facade was designed to serve as a first privacy filter. The highest part was set back to hide its true scale in relation to the street, generating a friendly integration with its neighbors. Casa Navarro was a collaborative and experimental project; to achieve the proposed results the workers had to learn new construction techniques and the project had to adapt certain elements to what is offered in the area."