PDC House

Studio: Central de Proyectos
Project: PDC House
Location: Mérida, Yucatán, México
Year: 2019
Category: Private Houses
Credit: Eduardo Calvo Santisbon

The design strategy of this house is based on a commitment to artisanal constructive honesty, the respect towards natural context in an urban area, and the constant search for a way of inhabiting where material austerity provides spatial quality. The main strategy of the house respects the 3 preexisting fruit trees on the north side and takes advantage of the best ventilation and natural light posible, condensing the programin a monolithic block to reduce its footprint,the upper roof tilts 21 degrees, prioritizing the northern bedroom spaces and reducing the southern service spaces. The subtraction and rotation of a middle segment generates a shift in between bedrooms, allowing cross ventilation, as well as the accommodation of rooftop equipment. In section, the composition allows the circulation of north-south winds, cooling the kitchen through height differences.Material honestyis incorporated in allelements. Theconcrete walls on ground floor give an imperfect finish consistent with the roof’s austerity, but contrasted with the cleanliness and volumetric continuity of the upper floor finish. Ceiling and floor finishings were completely eliminated,using bare concrete floors and joists in combination with vaulted pieces, designed and manufactured using a mold made with local artisan blacksmithing, thus expressing its structural performance.