Designed in harmony with the Mexican landscape of the state of Guanajuato, Enso II is a home with ancestral references which selects stone as its main element, a material rooted in the culture of the place. In charge of the project, developed mainly horizontally and characterised by a cruciform plan, was HW Studio, that gave shape to spaces in dialogue with the local soil, air and mountains. “In our projects we approach the place in silence, like animals in their habitat, trying to sharpen our senses to listen to the subtle murmurs of the site”, HW Studio explains to Ouvert. “We spend a lot of time exploring it, observing it, listening to it, and feeling it. It is crucial that what the place has to tell us remains deeply engraved within us. In this case, as in others, it was very important to recognize the endemic beauty of the desert to make a balanced architectural choices”.
For architects, landscape is a crucial aspect that is reflected in the design process and material selection. “Besides the stone, we chose Mexican travertine marble that was sourced from a mine in Puebla”, they say. The stone, a central material in the house, is an advantageous material in architecture, as designers point out: “Technically, its thermal capacity is undoubtedly an advantage. Conceptually, it connects us to the deepest roots of our pre-Hispanic, Hispanic, and modern architecture”. Also, the architects selected a local material: “We purchased the stone from a mine owned by a family near the construction site. It has always been important for us to involve the local community in our projects”. Divided into four zones that take on different functions, the residence houses an endemic garden in the lower right part, while the adjacent portion is occupied by cars. The third zone is dedicated to the sleeping and living area, separated by a volume in which bathrooms, dressing room and service area are located; the fourth part, developed vertically in contrast to the other elements, houses the office space.
Photography by Cesar Bejar Photographer’s © All rights reserved
