Nomah House by Di Frenna Arquitectos in Cuautemoc, Mexico

Project: Nomah House
Architects: Di Frenna Arquitectos
Location: Cuautemoc, Mexico
Area: 6,189 sq ft
Year: 2023
Photography by: Lorena Darcea

Nomah House by Di Frenna Arquitectos

Experience the harmonious blend of architecture and nature in this unique home, meticulously designed with consideration for the volcanic terrain. Rising above uneven land, the house offers a stunning view of the majestic volcano. Walls made from compressed earth connect with the upper floor, creating a link to nature.

A symphony of volumes, heights, and textures unfolds in the space with open, airy rooms that seem weightless. Natural light plays on materials such as cement, stone, and micro-hardened concrete, blending smoothly with the Colima soil.

Wooden accents add warmth while black ironwork enlivens the earthy palette. Rough textures pay homage to the volcano's ruggedness, inviting touch and connection with the environment. The central courtyard, adorned with water features and greenery, offers peaceful garden and volcano views, reinforcing our bond with nature. This home harmoniously combines architecture with an impressive natural world.

The architectural project rises above the challenges of uneven terrain. It is a unique home rooted in its surroundings, offering a privileged view of the majestic volcano. In the midst of complexity, innovation finds its place through the integration of compressed earth in the upper floor walls, symbolizing communication with nature.

The house becomes an engaging play of volumes, heights, and textures. Horizontal masses are interrupted by vertical and structural elements that allow for free spaces without additional support. These open areas, where architecture merges with the surrounding air, breathe lightness.

The interaction of architectural elements creates a visual and sensory symphony. Architecture becomes a constantly evolving work of art, where volumes intertwine and textures complement each other. Each element serves as a canvas for natural light to enter and exit, creating shadow games and contrasts that enrich the spatial experience.

The selected materials—cement, compressed earth, stone cladding, and micro-hardened concrete—dialogue harmoniously with the environment. Each was carefully chosen to connect with Colima's soil, creating an organic fusion between human craftsmanship and the surrounding landscape.

Warmth from wood appears in ceiling beams, railings, furniture, and soft, friendly lighting. This natural element brings warmth and a connection to nature. Contrast is enhanced by black ironwork, which provides an energetic contrast to the earth tones of compressed earth and concrete. This element reflects what happens in context, capturing the essence of nature and the surrounding volcano, merging with architecture itself.

The roughness of floors and stone-clad walls pays homage to the volcano's texture, a symbolic marker of the region. These robust and tactile elements add a sensory dimension to spaces, inviting residents to connect with the geological history and beauty of the surroundings.

The central concept of the project is based on a central courtyard, which serves as a pause in the poem—a place for breathing and embracing the presence of nature. From the beginning, the tree parotilla found its place, and water features were included where necessary to accompany the proposed vegetation and giant stones gifted by the soil itself.

These fountains, positioned along steps and offsets within the courtyard, evoke memories of flowing water and symbolize how the house volumes adapt to the terrain. Water and vegetation gently interweave among the stones, as if nature itself gradually enters the courtyard daily. This fusion opens a panoramic view of the garden, offering full observation of life's flow in harmony with architecture.

Through intermediate levels, the home grants a special pleasure to its inhabitants: constant views of the volcano. In every corner, the majesty of the volcano is present, honoring material nature and serving as a constant reminder of our connection to the environment and humanity's modest place before its grandeur. The kitchen, dining room, terrace, and guest bedroom are located on this lower level, giving them an intimate relationship with the garden. The guest bedroom particularly benefits from the privacy of this secluded space, inviting enjoyment of the tranquility and silence of the natural surroundings.

-Di Frenna Arquitectos