MR House by JCNAME Arquitectos in Chapala, Mexico

Project: MR House
Architects: JCNAME Arquitectos
Location: Chapala, Mexico
Photographs: Jorge Silva, Santiago Neme

MR House by JCNAME Arquitectos in Chapala, Mexico

The MR House is a stunning modern residence designed by JCNAME Arquitectos in Chapala, Mexico, near the country's largest freshwater lake. This home was developed as a vacation house for a family from Guadalajara, a city just 45 minutes away.

Chapala is Mexico's largest freshwater lake, located only 45 minutes from Guadalajara and just 20 minutes from the international airport. Over recent decades, it has become a thriving destination for retirement and leisure for many Americans and Canadians, now serving as home to the country's largest foreign community.

The MR House was designed as a vacation home for a family from Guadalajara. The nearly 13,000 sq ft lot features a significant south-facing slope that accidentally creates an impressive view of the lake. The house layout (over 6,000 sq ft) explores deep perspectives, openings and transparency in neutral tones, using several materials traditionally not associated with residential construction.

Given the irregular topography of the site, we decided to place the main entrance and service area at the highest point. The higher (service) and lower (living) volumes are separated by a courtyard reminiscent of traditional Latin American house layouts, connected by a narrow bridge.

The building materials—concrete and stone foundations and enclosing walls, clay walls, Vierendeel frames, and extensive use of large sliding glass panels—were key to avoiding columns or other visual obstructions on the sloping terraced structure, allowing each social and living space to have an unobstructed, unique view of the lake without neighbors' sightlines.

Aware of the growing need to reduce energy and water consumption, we followed passive house specifications including solar water heaters for both the home and pool, LED lighting, and modern artificial turf in the garden.

Finally, although the house was primarily designed as a weekend and vacation property, its potential for year-round use was considered upon request from the owners, requiring minimal changes to current plans—a testament to its versatile design.

–JCNAME Arquitectos