Located in the heart of Mexico, Enso II is a building full of character, reflecting the image of the capital of the state of the same name, Guanajuato.
Indeed, there are few places in Mexico with such a strong identity as Guanajuato. A character that is clearly reflected in its architecture, but also in its traditional cooking utensils, its aqueducts, and its legends, such as that of Pípila, a figure of 19th-century Mexican resistance.
In this region, stone is an element deeply rooted in all forms of cultural expression. That is why the choice of this material was very natural to bring this architectural work to life.
Designed by the architectural firm HW Studio, the complex is laid out on a cruciform plan. The space is divided into four parts by a cross of stone walkways that define the paths, framing and separating all the zones.
A theme was then assigned to each of these spaces: the lower right section welcomes residents upon arrival; its purpose is to house a native garden that protects and welcomes people and other living beings. The second section is for cars; particular care was taken with the trees during construction, as they provide shade to protect the vehicles from the sun. To complete the design, a long, slightly arched stone wall protects the entrance, preserving the privacy of the house and emphasizing the horizontal presence of the mountain in the background.
The third section houses the one-bedroom house. Public spaces are separated from private spaces by a single volume containing bathrooms, a dressing room, and a service area, which breaks with the open floor plan. Finally, the fourth section contains an office, the only visible and prominent vertical element that contrasts with the horizontality of the landscape and the other elements – a design that evokes the iconic volumes of the former Santa Brígida silver mine in Mineral de Pozos.
The dispersion of spaces leads to moving from one to another, in contact with the earth, the air and the mountain, as in an ancient monastery framing the landscape while blending into it entirely.
HW-STUDIO.COM
