Terrano House by Fernanda Canales in Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Project: Terrano House
Architects: Fernanda Canales
Location: Valle de Bravo, Mexico
Area: 2,152 sq ft
Photos: Property of Fernanda Canales

Terrano House by Fernanda Canales

The Terrano House is a unique modern residence located on a mountain plateau in Mexico, Valle de Bravo. Designed by Fernanda Canales in a traditional style with modern accents, it offers over two thousand square feet of beautiful living space surrounded by pristine nature.

The house is situated on a mountain plateau about three hours from Mexico City and aims to achieve two seemingly contradictory things: sanctuary and openness. On one hand, it seeks to become a sanctuary from drastic climate changes where the temperature can shift almost 30 degrees Celsius in one day and where it rains nearly every day for six months. On the other hand, it aims to fully open up to the vast landscape.

To satisfy both the need for sanctuary and the desire for openness, the house is organized around four internal courtyards. The first is a curved courtyard that serves as a transitional space between the outside world and the house; the second, larger and central courtyard, marks the transition from private to public areas. The third, located on a lower level, represents a hidden space leading to the rooftop terraces. The fourth courtyard forms a kind of utility area.

These four internal courtyards allow for the creation of various zones within an endless landscape and precisely define views. They also provide greater dynamism between interior and exterior spaces: each zone faces one courtyard on one side and open space on the other, creating airflow, light from two or three directions, and defining the house both inside and out.

This dual nature of the house is also reflected in its material appearance: externally it's built with brick, while internally it uses concrete and wood. The red color and rough texture created by using broken bricks emphasize a completely different atmosphere compared to the smooth surfaces and neutral tones inside.

The roofs of rooms, office, and dining area are constructed as concrete vaults that create a new topography complementing the flat roof plantings of less important areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and storage. Thus, there is a play between the organic shape of the clay-faced vaults and green roofs.

– Fernanda Canales