Mountain Cabins

The project is located in the mountains of the Sierra de Mazamitla, Jalisco, Mexico, on a 460 m² plot surrounded by large-scale pines and oaks, with a significant slope and a single access point at the highest part of the site. Based on these characteristics, the decision was made to design a vertical structure, seeking light, views, and harmony with the surroundings.

Two identical volumes, each with a minimal footprint of 5 by 5 meters, are carefully placed within the terrain. With only 50 m² of built area, the design preserves 410 m² of forest, respecting every tree and the existing vegetation. This approach not only preserves the landscape but also enhances it, allowing the architecture to appear as an organic feature among the trees.

The staircase, conceived as a spiral that embraces the volumes, extends around three sides of the structures. This sculptural and functional element becomes one of the project’s protagonists, connecting the levels while framing dynamic views of the forest.

The program is developed vertically across four levels, each offering a unique atmosphere that reveals different facets of the surroundings: at the stone base, level -1, the services and water cistern are located; at level 0, the entry level, beneath the pine canopies, are a kitchen, an open-plan living area, a full bathroom, and a terrace open to the immediate landscape, at level 1, at the height of the pine foliage, is a bedroom with a bathroom and a mezzanine, at level 2, above the treetops, there is an open terrace, a viewpoint that offers panoramic views of the valley, providing a stunning experience.