CULIACÁN

The Culiacán House is located in and named for the capital of the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa. Due to the city’s year-round heat and high levels of humidity, a bioclimatic study was conducted and regarded as a key factor for the architectural design decisions. The home’s direct access to an artificial lake was also a guiding element of the design. A diagonal wall crosses through the house, separating the pool house—the main public area—from the kitchen and terrace. The direction of the prevailing winds, as well as the views offered by the lake, dictated that the house should be oriented towards the south.

The northern side, lacking an attractive view, was almost completely closed off. This decision was part of a conscious effort to separate the structure from its context, allowing the family to feel as though their home is a private getaway, more in contact with nature than with the residential community that surrounds it. Private areas such as bathrooms and storage spaces were placed to the north. The bedrooms are on the second floor, each one enjoying a view of the lake. Despite its large scale, the materials palette carefully wraps the house in a feeling of warmth and comfort.