Di Frenna Arquitectos: Walking through Casa Zazil evokes a variety of feelings and senses. The wind that moves through the vegetation, stirring sounds, the textures of the materials, the roughness of the stone, the variety of tones and scents imparted by the grain of the wood; walking through the house from the entrance continually awakens the curiosity of visitors to discover what the next space will hold.
The project is laid out in a horseshoe shape as a gesture of shelter for its inhabitants; it protects from the Colima climate and sunlight, while seeking privacy and containing the architectural program in an orderly manner, generating an intimate context that opens up and contradicts this same principle on its rear façade.
The relevance between the different spaces is achieved thanks to the variety of built heights, which indicate when an area is intended to be more welcoming and personal or when the intention is contrary and more social. This is how the tour of the house begins. A double-height foyer welcomes visitors, framing a shorter, closer view, providing the opportunity to explore the subsequent rooms one by one.
The program is divided into two pronounced volumes and floor plans, where zoning became clear and precise. The social spaces are sheltered on the first level and are gratified by the view of the golf course, along with the expanse of surrounding vegetation that seems to subtly integrate into the gaps it encounters as it disperses. Thus, a gigantic papelillo tree integrates perfectly into the residence and stands out while blending in with the rest of the floors.
The upper level houses the bedrooms. Warmth is felt on this floor, the carpentry elements feel essential, and the pauses that are insinuated through the windows are a delight of natural light that allow for magnificent views of the treetops and the horizon.
Under the same premise of opposing certain values, the building's materiality plays with itself, creating a unified dialogue behind a balance between lightness and heaviness. Large stone volumes meet roofs that seem to rest delicately upon them, composed of wooden beams and steel structures, referencing architecture distinguished by warmth and adapting to a more contemporary version.
The significance of the stone does not stop at the robustness that integrates the extraordinary volumes; it also represents the artisanal pretensions of the design. The Colima volcano itself enables the rich textures of the project; this material is native and worked by local artisans, giving the inhabitants a feeling of constant freshness.
The complete integration of the project permeates every detail, reflecting the dignity of the materials, in their pure and natural state, in which they age and always blend with the context; this idea was also carried over into the interior design. In collaboration with MUMO, the selection of pieces and finishes pursues an exploration of the local, collaborating with Mexican artists and designers. Thus, the final pieces of the puzzle remain discreet, silent, and integrated, allowing those who enjoy this house to always be the ones who bring color and life to it.
