Mexico

With La Piedad, the studio Cotaparedes Arquitectos designs a minimalist house that is articulated around three patios, emerging from the basement. The plot is 10 meters wide and 35 meters deep, with a 3-meter drop. Its name refers to the city of the same name, located in the Mexican state of Michoacán, and to Michelangelo's Pietà. It also takes its references and proportions from the Gilardi House by Mexican architect Luis Barragán, with its sumptuous Jacaranda planted in the center and around which are organized two main volumes.

Several gardens cover the space, divided into two zones (private and social), with a large Ficus Lyrata reigning in the central patio. The owners' primary interest was to have an entertaining setting for their children to enjoy without having to leave the house. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are located in the front, while the bedrooms are located in the back.

The structure stands proudly on its walls, wrapping itself in an architecture where the relationship between inside and outside remains discreet but present. A double-height screen wall completes the design to ensure privacy from surrounding views and to protect from the sun's rays.

Nathalie Dassa

Photo credits: César Béjar