House Immerses Itself In Surrounding Vegetation

Designed by: Vertebral.

Location: Mexico City, Mexico | Latitude: 19.415˚ N

Embracing the natural vegetation surrounding your house is a fantastic part of its design. It is a home that lets you enjoy the beauty of nature even when you are inside.

That is what Casa Erasto in Mexico City does. This design by Vertebral creates a house that immerses itself in a lush landscape.

“A house built for a garden.”

– Vertebral

Photo: Studio Chirika

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this house unique.

Location, Site and Climate

Casa Erasto is in Mexico City, Mexico. 

At 19.415˚ N latitude, Mexico City is in the tropical region. 

However, it has a subtropical climate. That is because it is close to the Tropic of Cancer and has a high altitude. Hence, temperatures are cooler than in many tropical regions. Temperatures can go up to highs of 27˚C ( 80˚F) but can get as low as 7˚C (44˚F).

In addition, the average humidity is low at 38%.

Home Design Approach And Layout

The main focus of this three-storey house is to open out to the surrounding gardens and vegetation.

In the middle of the home is the core of the building. It punches through the centre of the house and contains the stair and intimate services areas.

However, apart from the core, the rest of the interior spaces have glass all around. 

The living, dining rooms and kitchen are on the ground floor in an open floor plan arrangement.

However, the bedrooms are on the two upper floors. 

There is also a garden on the roof.

House Immersed In The Vegetation

Casa Erasto is next to Chapultepec Forest, which is one of the biggest parks in Mexico City. It is also one of the largest urban parks in Latin America. 

Therefore, it is fitting that this house is on a site with many trees and plants.

There is even a Jacaranda tree that you can see once you enter the property. In addition, there are bamboo plants all around the lot’s perimeter.

The design of this house makes it feel like it is part of the garden. Connecting the people inside with the trees outside is a solid biophilic response.

Glass windows and doors with terraces surround the home. Hence, you can see the plants and trees from the inside. 

Photo: Studio Chirika

The bedrooms on the upper floors also have big windows that let you see the tops of the trees.

In addition, there is a rooftop garden. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the view of the surrounding nature. There is also a wooden pergola that provides shade on the roof. 

The house provides a peaceful spot in a lush, tropical landscape for an urban site.

“When seen from above, the dwelling is perceived as an uninterrupted vegetated plot that stands out from its urban context.”

– Vertebral

Glass Doors Opens Up House To Outdoors

The ground floor of the house is where the public spaces are. These include the living, dining, kitchen and lounge area. They are the rooms where people in the home can gather. 

What is incredible about this house is that the ground floor can open up entirely to the outside. 

So, you can be inside but feel like you are outside in the garden. 

Photo: Studio Chirika

Large glass doors and panels surround almost 90% of the ground floor’s perimeter. These doors stretch from the floor to the ceiling. In addition, the door frames are thin. Hence, they do not obstruct the views of the lush vegetation outside.

“Views curated to frame the surrounding nature creating a feeling of openness in an efficiently compact space.”

– Vertebral

It’s a great way to connect to nature outside from indoors.

The expansive door openings around the rooms also ensure ample ventilation moving right through the house.

Construction and Materials

Materials in this house are simple with natural or no finishes.

Photo: Studio Chirika

The core walls are concrete. Beams are steel with glass windows and doors all around.

In addition, the floors and stair treads are timber.

These materials and the homes’ relationship to the climate make this it a modern home in its subtropical climate.

Conclusion

Casa Erasto is an excellent example of a home that connects well with its natural environment.

Using glass windows and doors around the house’s perimeter helps bring the vegetation and landscape inside. It creates an incredible experience within the home and has many benefits.

Trees provide shade from the sun around the exterior of the home. In addition, the large openings allow for lots of natural ventilation and light.

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Architect: Vertebral
Photographer: Studio Chirika

Reference:
Climates to Travel: Mexico City
World Monuments Fund: Chapultepec Park