Relo House by Arkham Projects in Mérida, Mexico

Project: Relo House
Architects: Arkham Projects
Location: Mérida, Mexico
Area: 5,435 sq ft
Photos: Used with permission from Arkham Projects

Relo House by Arkham Projects in Mérida, Mexico

Arkham Projects have completed the design of the Relo House project in Mérida, Mexico. This two-level modern house creates just under 5,500 square feet of luxurious, minimalist living spaces connected to a rich landscape design both inside and out.

Casa Relo is a reflection on the meaning of intimacy, a dialogue between privacy and curiosity. An interior home that shows little from the outside but reveals its essence upon entry. Solid yet transparent, with inner courtyards that animate the spaces.

The first is the outer courtyard, whose main feature is a large watermelon tree that reveals part of its foliage from the street and dominates this space. It can be approached through an external door or a corridor connecting the garage to the house's internal hallway. It was important to invite users to pass through this space daily, filtering social life from the private zone, and on the other hand use the main door of the house daily rather than a service one.

The second courtyard is located at the center of the house and becomes the heart of the entire project. On the first floor, it separates service areas from social spaces; on the second floor, it divides the TV room and living room from the main bedroom and children's room. On both floors, views are provided to green zones, cross-ventilation, and natural lighting throughout the day. Inside, on the second floor, a stepped bridge allows interaction with vegetation in another way than usual; the staircase appears because the social area on the first floor has a height of 1.5 meters, while service areas have only one height, so the main bedroom and children's room are on a higher level compared to the TV room where this bridge emerges.

The rear facade, like the main one, presents a large solid volume; however, thanks to subtractive elements from the large white element, the terrace roof has an excellent interplay of heights and spatial sensations due to its sloped elements. There are three elements that appear as large lamps from inside, filling the space with light, but viewed from the north seem like tilted boxes that somewhat defy gravity. Casa Relo is a contrast, it's a surprise, a modest house from the outside and very expressive inside — a home full of emotions related to nature.

– Arkham Projects