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The home's slightly-relocated front door, now recessed into the house in order to provide a covered entry

The couple rarely needs to turn on an interior electric light until sundown—and even if the ridge skylight extends their mortgage payments a little longer, Amy says “I’m so glad we did it—it’s what makes the house.”

A special finish brings out the grain in the kitchen's walnut cabinetry.

Floor Plan of La Colorada by PPAA

The kitchen island is made from natural stucco and topped with aluminum. The floor is made with stone from a local quarry.

Bedrooms are kept simple with stucco walls and large windows. A trundle pulls out from under the larger bed to better accommodate large groups of guests.

The doors in the lower section of the house are made from treated pine and finished with a black varnish to match the stucco walls.

A small water deposit on the property allows the family to collect water during the months with heavy rain and reuse it during the dry season.

"Our main goal for this project was to persevere and embrace the surroundings," Pablo notes, "so we took advantage of the topography and located the private areas of the homes 'underneath' so they disappear."

Architect Pablo Pérez Palacios wanted the new addition to feel rooted in its surroundings, so he used a natural-colored handmade stucco with black pigments for the exterior.

Under the extension of the A-frame is the dining area and a large sofa for gathering. According to Pablo, the family gathers there in all weather. "Listening to the rain on the roof and in the trees is a wonderful experience," he notes.

A pool at the edge of the terrace gives swimmers the best views of the property.

The narrow stairway emerging from the interior bedrooms appears as though it is carved into the stone terrace.

The couple enjoy growing veggies in an on-site greenhouse, and tending to their flock of chickens.

The living room is a popular gathering spot. Tucked into the original section of the A-frame structure, it's protected against the elements but still has a view out into the surrounding forest.

The A-frame is constructed with treated pine; its knots and other imperfections add character to the space.

The original A-frame now holds the main living areas, including the kitchen and living room. A stair leads to a lofted bedroom.

Pablo designed his family's home to disrupt as little of the landscape as possible. “We only had to take out one tree during this project,” he says. They reused the wood to create a railing around the terrace.

Pablo designed his family’s home to disrupt as little of the landscape as possible.