Evl House

Tall trees surround the multi-story residence, creating a peaceful and shaded country oasis.

Stafford Residence floor plan

To most eyes, Ezequiel Farca’s 1970s-style concrete home in Mexico City looked like a teardown. Even the lot itself—shallow and crammed against a steep hillside—wasn’t particularly alluring. But Farca saw through all the restraints to create a spa-like refuge in one of the world’s most energetic cities. "It’s is such a hectic place. You’re bombarded by so much information the moment you step into the streets," says Farca, who first gained prominence as a furniture and interior designer. "So we envisioned this house as a retreat, a kind of a temple." The rooftop courtyard is lined with a verdant mix of indigenous plants, including banana trees, palm trees, lion’s claw, Mexican breadfruit, and native vines. The chaise longues were designed for Farca’s EF Collection.

This also made it possible to include a pool that seamlessly joins with the rear terrace, since the rocky terrain prevented excavation work.

While not connected to the house's irrigation, the saltwater pool has its own solar-powered saline pump and cleansing system.

The house is hidden from the road and sits on a hilltop clearing that overlooks the rolling farmland of the Mississippi River bluffs in Western Wisconsin. From this vantage point, there is a 270-degree view, with dramatic sunsets over the distant hills.

"The home noses out of the forest just a little bit, like it’s peeking out of the trees,” says architect Ray Calabro.

Winter View

Wedged into the mountainous landscape, the form follows the slope of the site, with the back façade opening up to the view.