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This compact vacation home by TACO—or, Taller de Arquitectura Contextual—is immersed in southeastern Mexico’s wild landscape. The home is designed for a pair of young adults, and the firm’s objective was to achieve a reflective and contemplative place that links the occupants with the surrounding environment. The result is an intuitive, functional, and simple living experience that offers great spatial warmth.

The upper floor has a smaller footprint than the lower floor. This created an opportunity to remove the ceiling in the shower to let the owners bathe outdoors in privacy.

The warm wood furnishings stand out against the sculptural staircase, which references the form of the wall outside.

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

The home was built on a platform, as the architects wanted it to be raised off the ground to discourage wild animals from entering.

The Monte House spans just two floors and 452 square feet. The firm employed folding doors with operable louvers of regional cedar wood (seen here in the upper window) to allow the occupants to control their level of contact between the interior and the exterior.

Louver doors in the shower provide privacy while allowing strips of light to filter in.

The compact retreat in Nayarit, Mexico, that Palma designed for an American couple comprises two stucco-clad volumes connected by a patio. The oculus above the open space frames the sky.

A tall, thatched ceiling of dried palm leaves in the combined kitchen and living area facilitates natural ventilation.

In the kitchen, concrete floors and counters are offset by wood cabinetry and doors that add warmth to the space.

The compact retreat in Nayarit, Mexico, that Palma designed for an American couple comprises two stucco-clad volumes connected by a patio. The oculus above the open space frames the sky.

Folding doors create an indoor/outdoor experience.

The bathrooms come fully outfitted with fixtures from Damixa, a one-piece toilet from Laufen, a Velis Evo water heater, and a towel dryer. The shower stall can also be purchased as a detached unit intended for use alongside Iglucraft's sauna.

The Igluhuts are modular in design. The names of each model reflects how many units are strung together and whether it features the large, arched panorama window.

Apart from cabins, saunas, and outdoor showers, Iglucraft has also used their hallmark structure to make offices, bars, and detached bathrooms. If none of these quite fit your needs, Iglucraft invites inquiries about bespoke projects.

The architect placed only a few windows on the eastern and northern facades, which intersect in a pronounced curve, to maintain privacy.

In the breezy bathroom, three walls are finished with white marble.

"I wanted polarity between the skin—the solid, pure form—and for human interaction, I wanted warmth," says Christoph Kaiser. After bidding out millwork for an estimated $60,000, Kaiser decided to complete the work himself with the help of his neighbors.