Although technically located within the urbanized zone of Mexico City, the borough of Tlalpuente feels like a world apart, with its provincial atmosphere, natural conservation sites, and colonial-era mansions. Mexico City–based Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados (PPAA) recently completed a 3,700-square-foot home in the area that is punctuated with expansive voids that welcome in sunlight, breezes, and forest views.

Inspired by the lack of neighbors and proximity to nature, the design team sought to “explore the relation of the house with its environment,” says PPAA. Working with an essentially square volume, they carved away voids that became covered outdoor porches at the ground level, double-height spaces inside, and skylights for the upper level. Each void “has a particular purpose that complements the interior space, views, and terraces,” says PPAA.

The home’s plan is divided into a grid of nine equal squares, which allows for distinct spaces with similar proportions. The voids also follow the grid, creating spaces that are open to each other but also subtly separated.

The voids are located in opposite corners of the home, each providing 180-degree views of different vistas. Together, they create a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding forest.

Walls of floor-to-ceiling glass open up to the covered porches, allowing sunlight to stream in. Strategically placed skylights in open corridors and double-height spaces provide additional daylighting.

PPAA has completed several projects throughout Mexico including private residences, apartment complexes, offices, and cultural buildings. They are inspired by “nature, where textures, wind, temperature, soil, and scales create a sensorial atmosphere.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: PPAA / @perez_palacios_aa

Structural & Civil Engineer: BVG ingenieras

Landscape Design: Orlando Villavicencio