XI. CASA GIRASOL  

A House To [Literally] Catch The Sun. Located in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, and surrounded by a pine forest, “Casa Girasol” refers to the project’s primary intention: to capture as much sunlight as possible in order to passively counteract the area’s cold and rainy climate. To achieve this, a traditional house-patio typology was chosen, but with a circular geometry in the form of an incomplete ring open to the south. This unique gesture allows for an embracing of the forest and its topography while directing the views of the main spaces inward, prioritizing privacy and creating more intimate pathways. The project is situated in a private subdivision in the forested area of Avándaro / Valle de Bravo, with the intention of being a vacation home. The materiality responds to the dual relationship between the base and the roof. The former, made of pigmented concrete in an earthy tone, emerges from the ground to contain the site’s rugged topography. This heavy shell functions as a support for the lightweight roof constructed with laminated oak beams, which provides warmth and shelter to the interior of the house. The windows located at the top of the walls not only favour the entry of natural light into the spaces but also provide total privacy for the inhabitants. An Intimate And Playful Refuge. Casa Girasol was designed as a family retreat with the goal of creating dynamic spaces that allow all family members to interact with eachother throughout the year, adapting to the changing climate. The irregular topography of the land allows for an interesting and playful form both outside and inside, creating intimate “in-between” atmospheres where the outdoor and indoor blend together to offer spatial freedoms for different climates and activities.