Studio House CHOI by Cubo Rojo Arquitectura in Leon, Mexico

Project: Studio House CHOI
Architects: Cubo Rojo Arquitectura
Location: Leon, Mexico
Area: 4090 sq ft
Photographs: César Béjar Studio

Studio House CHOI by Cubo Rojo Arquitectura

The Studio House CHOI by Cubo Rojo Arquitectura embodies a deep connection between art and architecture. Located in the city of Leon, Mexico, this house blurs the boundaries between personal living space and an art gallery. Designed for a painter and art lover, the project offers a unique experience. Upon entering, visitors are drawn to Lago El Palote, satisfying the family's desire for stunning panoramas. The interior spaces are planned to create different atmospheres with varying heights and scales. The social area resembles an art gallery, while service areas are designed for intimacy. The studio, a key element for the artist, smoothly transitions into the landscape.

Art is one of the greatest expressions of the human soul; it nourishes the spirit and is perceived differently by each individual. Architecture has always had a close relationship with art and aesthetics, yet space is not just an aspect to consider: it is a living place, and when necessary, architecture reveals itself. The atmosphere and expression of this project are based on the idea of providing clients—artists and art lovers—with all necessary architectural solutions. The goal is to build a house that preserves the spirit of an art gallery inside while possessing the character of an artistic museum outside, i.e., an object for observation and reinterpretation by each viewer.

The spatial layout was determined based on the imagination of various routes and situations within the house, which provide users with a different experience in each space that makes up the home. One of the main requirements from the homeowner was to have a studio for working with oil paints, as well as space to display works for guests. This inspired us to transform the social area of the house into an experience similar to an art gallery.

A parking area is located directly in front of the house at street level; however, the pedestrian entrance rises 1.60 meters above street level. Thus, upon entering the house, a direct view of Lago El Palote is revealed since having views of water and landscape was the family's main requirement. Once inside, besides the landscape view, one can see the spaciousness of the interior due to high ceilings in the gallery and living room area, with access to ground level where service areas such as kitchen, dining room, and bathroom are located. These service zones have their own height in a more intimate scale, creating another atmosphere. On this level, there is also access to the terrace, where stairs are mixed with the garden leading down to the final ground level, featuring a laundry room and gym. A stone wall excavated from the earth rises in the surrounding area to enhance the natural landscape.

Returning to the entrance level, there is a corridor that invites one to look at the social space and gallery from another angle and directly connects to the studio, which smoothly transitions into the landscape and garden through elements of glazing that provide light and ventilation.

On the first floor are rooms accessible via a linear concrete staircase, and together with several domes they create almost sculptural effects between light and continuous space. From the first floor, one can appreciate the space through the magnificent central height of the house. Rooms are located on both sides of the plot: on the eastern side are 2 rooms with views allowing one to see the entire city and surrounding landscape, a balcony connecting the two rooms creating a small shared living space. On the western side is a room facing the street and connecting to an open area of the house, providing certain autonomy from other rooms but remaining connected to them. Almost next to this room is a terrace offering a shared living space more connected with the street and neighbors.

-Cubo Rojo Arquitectura