blancas moran designs a family house in mexico city using natural stone and timber

the AA315 single family house, designed by architect blancas moran, is located in the west of mexico city and is part of a third generation of architectural interventions in a residential neighborhood created in the 1930’s.

the AA315 single family house, designed by architect blancas moran, is located in the west of mexico city and is part of a third generation of architectural interventions in a residential neighborhood created in the 1930’s. when the client acquired the plot, a 1950’s house occupied the center of the site, however, once evaluating different scenarios, the client decided to demolish the existing building and commission a new project. after the demolition of the existing building, the 60 year old trees surrounding the previous house were revealed, dictating together with the orientation of the plot, the L-shape of the project.

blancas moran decided to exploit the condition and agreed with the client to design a house that could open and live as much as possible to the green exterior, aiming to create a garden with a house instead of a house with a garden. the architectural brief is organized in three levels. the first level features the social areas ( living room, dining room, family room, terrace, toilet, kitchen and lobby), the second includes the private areas (master bedroom, small bedrooms, guest room, TV room) and the basement has the services (laundry room, garage, gym , technical areas).

all the programs featured on the first level are open to the garden. only specific areas like the dining room, the family room and the kitchen require a specific degree of privacy. the house’s main staircase is located in the double height corner of the L-Shape serving as a connection between the social and private areas of the house. the second level takes advantage of the L-Shape to divide the private areas into three sections. the left wing is occupied by the master bedroom with a bathroom and dressing room, the right with is occupied by the two smaller bedrooms and the TV room and the corner of the L-shape includes the stair lobby and guest room. this arrangement guarantees the privacy of the bedrooms and creates a meeting point for the family in the crossing of the two wings.