The Capuchinas House in Querétaro, Mexico, is a hillside residence designed by Laboratorio de Arquitectura that responds directly to its steep site conditions. The project minimizes earthworks by placing the main volume along the natural slope, allowing the building to terrace down the hillside rather than be set on a flattened platform. This arrangement preserves the existing topography and reduces the need for retaining walls or major site alteration.
The house uses a reinforced concrete frame with local stone infill to create robust structures that frame views toward the surrounding landscape. Large sliding glass doors and windows are oriented to capture daylight and connect interior spaces with outdoor terraces. The plan organizes living areas, bedrooms, and service functions along the site’s gradient, allowing each space to access daylight and outdoor views while maintaining a compact footprint on the uneven ground.
Image Credit: Ariadna Polo
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Slope-adapted Architecture
- Designs that follow natural slopes instead of flattening terrain demonstrate innovative solutions for building on challenging sites.
- Topography-preserving Construction
- Construction methods that preserve existing landscapes reduce environmental impact and maintain natural aesthetics.
- Integrated Indoor-outdoor Spaces
- Seamless integration of indoor and outdoor areas through sliding doors and windows enhances the living experience by connecting homeowners with nature.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Sustainable Architecture
- Efforts in sustainable architecture benefit from reducing earth movement and employing locally sourced materials.
- Residential Construction
- Innovative residential construction techniques involve building within natural contours to optimize land use efficiently and sustainably.
- Landscape Architecture
- Landscape architecture that collaborates with natural terrain creates aesthetically pleasing and ecologically mindful residential projects.
