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Pardo enjoys contemplative moments relaxing in the tub with the windows open.

Double-glazed windows are an important feature that help control the building’s interior climate.

The architects specified an aluminum roof that “ghosts” the structure—it’s a material that recalls the typical use of corrugated metal on agricultural buildings, yet it subtly contrasts with the historic form. “It’s not quite what you’d use on a normal barn,” says Powell.

The seashell concrete technique used for the floors came from a casual conversation over beers. Someone suggested mixing seashells directly into the staircase concrete, creating what José describes as "the most gorgeous thing you can find—all full of seashells embedded in the concrete." 

Designed by Mexico City architects Pablo Germenos Garcia and Ernesto Pérez Rea Juncá, and prefabricated off-site by their company Peregrino, each O-Frame uses cutouts, circular windows, and sliding curved walls to frame specific views. "Everyone has a tiny cabin,

Eighteen insulated concrete panels, each a different size and shape, were trucked to the site and hoisted into place over three days. The outlines of eight of these panels can be seen when the house is viewed from the southwest.