Gold Winner of the International Architecture & Design Awards 2023

CasaTresAguas

Architecture

Private Residence Small

Built / Professional Category

blank
blank

Architect / Designer:

Andreas Croitoru / Jean Sebastien Houyoux

Studio:

DesignH&C

Design Team:

Jean Sebastien Houyoux

Copyright:

Ulises Santamaria

Country:

Mexico

This small beach house has been created by two architect friends and longtime collaborators in the hospitality industry, as a weekend getaway for their families, to immerse into nature and the tranquility of the fisher town of Celestun.

The name CasaTresAguas alludes not only to the pitched roof geometry, but also to the fact that it is located inside a biosphere reserve between the lagoon with its famous flamingos and a huge diversity of birds and the tranquil and turquoise sea with its white sand, adding the third element of comfort and pleasure with its own swimming pool.

A seamless transition between in- and outdoors, as well as a focus on comfort and nature was the main goal to be achieved in all aspects. The master bedroom on the first floor is a loft-like setting and has a fantastic, clear view of the ocean. The entire beachside is designed as a full height glass-front stretching from peak to floor and vertically connecting all the spaces consisting of kitchen, dining and lounge with the outdoors and pool areas. The result is a light, open feeling of living in harmony with both worlds, home and nature.

To the north side of the house, the small kitchen opens to a terrace with a custom designed outdoor dining table and BBQ. Effective cross ventilation was an important part for the design in this climate, to reduce electricity cost by avoiding the use of the Air-Condition as much as possible.

Although the look resembles the traditional palapas in the region, it has been opted for using durable materials, all locally sourced and with low carbon footprint. Everything has been designed to the needs of the guest and has been built with the help of local contractors, mostly from the village itself and the city of Merida 100km away.

This small beach house has been created by two architect friends and longtime collaborators in the hospitality industry, as a weekend getaway for their families, to immerse into nature and the tranquility of the fisher town of Celestun.

The name CasaTresAguas alludes not only to the pitched roof geometry, but also to the fact that it is located inside a biosphere reserve between the lagoon with its famous flamingos and a huge diversity of birds and the tranquil and turquoise sea with its white sand, adding the third element of comfort and pleasure with its own swimming pool.

A seamless transition between in- and outdoors, as well as a focus on comfort and nature was the main goal to be achieved in all aspects. The master bedroom on the first floor is a loft-like setting and has a fantastic, clear view of the ocean. The entire beachside is designed as a full height glass-front stretching from peak to floor and vertically connecting all the spaces consisting of kitchen, dining and lounge with the outdoors and pool areas. The result is a light, open feeling of living in harmony with both worlds, home and nature.

To the north side of the house, the small kitchen opens to a terrace with a custom designed outdoor dining table and BBQ. Effective cross ventilation was an important part for the design in this climate, to reduce electricity cost by avoiding the use of the Air-Condition as much as possible.

Although the look resembles the traditional palapas in the region, it has been opted for using durable materials, all locally sourced and with low carbon footprint. Everything has been designed to the needs of the guest and has been built with the help of local contractors, mostly from the village itself and the city of Merida 100km away.