Papagayo House By Ariel Valenzuela And Diego Ledesma

Architects Ariel Valenzuela and Diego Ledesma have refurbished the ‘Papagayo House’, a single-story home located in Monterrey, Mexico.

The interior of ‘Papagayo House’ was originally very dark and closed, so the main task for the architects was to introduce more light and ventilation to the space. Situated in one of the warmest cities in Mexico, the need for a more open space was a crucial design target. The courtyard also acts as a natural source of light and air, giving the home a more open and spacious feel. Working with structural limitations, Valenzuela and Ledesma used parametric design techniques to work out how to make the best of the awkward floor plan. The biggest challenge the architects faced was that the busiest areas in the home were the least illuminated. To overcome this, they introduced a courtyard filled with pebbles and plants in the middle of the house connecting the bedrooms, social areas and study. The courtyard also acts as a natural source of light and air, giving the home a more open and spacious feel. One of the most striking features of ‘Papagayo House’ is its contrasting brick and whitewashed exterior. The architects used local artisanal milpa brick to construct a dogtooth patterned brick wall on one side while a smooth white wall with letterbox shaped windows runs along the opposite side.

All images © Ariel Valenzuela & Diego Ledesma