Casa Paseo de la Cantera: Integrating Open Design and Local Craftsmanship

Environmentally and Socially Responsive Architectural Design

Casa Paseo de la Cantera is located in Colima, Mexico, a region known for its tropical climate and cobblestone streets, as well as its deep-rooted artisanal traditions. This project was designed for a family of five, with a focus on creating a cohesive and flexible living environment.

Interaction Between Interior and Exterior

The design is based on an open ground floor that allows seamless connection with the outdoor spaces, enhancing natural ventilation and lighting. San Andrés stone was selected as a key building material, leveraging the skills of local artisans in shaping it, reflecting respect for local craftsmanship and a harmonious integration of natural materials within modern projects.

Structural Framework and Interior Organization

The house is organized around a structural grid of columns and beams made of concrete tinted in shades of brown. This approach enables a fully open ground floor, free of partition walls, visually and functionally connecting all living spaces while granting each area a view of the courtyard or surrounding greenery.

Material Harmony and Design

Beyond its structural role, this system unifies the material palette throughout the project, maintaining visual and tactile harmony. This is evident in the coordination between the Chukum-painted walls, warm-toned metal elements, and local gray marble floors, creating a cohesive living experience that resonates with the surrounding environment.

Facade Design and Its Relationship to Privacy and Lighting

The main façade is designed with a hand-carved stone lattice that filters natural light in a way that maintains privacy within the home while still providing visual connection with the surrounding environment. This approach demonstrates how architecture can balance openness and privacy simultaneously.

Integration of Craftsmanship and Contemporary Design

The collaborative work of stonemasons, marble workers, and form carpenters reflects meticulous attention to craft and its importance in supporting architectural design. The project highlights how traditional local craftsmanship can be integrated into a contemporary architectural approach, delivering a living experience that combines both visual and functional quality.

The Kitchen as a Social Hub

The spatial plan gives special importance to the kitchen as the social heart of the home, opening onto the rest of the shared spaces and directly connecting to the surrounding courtyards. This design reflects the significance of fostering family and social interaction within the living environment while maintaining smooth circulation between rooms and open areas.

Gardens and Natural Ventilation

Three gardens, located at the entrance, the center of the house, and the rear of the lot, contribute to cross-ventilation and visual continuity, reducing reliance on artificial cooling while enhancing the connection between interior and exterior spaces. Additionally, the wrought-iron designs and custom windows allow light and plants to permeate, becoming an active part of the daily living experience.

Design Process and Continuous Interaction

Ongoing interaction with artisans and end-users, alongside the creation of full-scale mock-ups and models, was essential in refining the material character of the house and ensuring detail accuracy. This approach reflects a design philosophy that combines practical execution with creative vision to ensure the quality of the architectural experience.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The project can be appreciated for its emphasis on integrating open floors and local craftsmanship, providing an example of how traditional materials can be used in a contemporary way to support interaction between interior and exterior spaces. However, the design may raise questions regarding its adaptability to users’ long-term needs, particularly in terms of indoor climate control and reliance on natural ventilation as a primary strategy. Additionally, the construction approach depending on the skills of specific artisans could pose challenges for replicating this model or applying it in other contexts.

From an urban planning perspective, the open spaces and courtyards can foster connection with nature, but they require ongoing maintenance and careful management to ensure functional performance and sustainability. Overall, the project offers an opportunity to understand the relationship between architectural design, the surrounding environment, and local craftsmanship, while noting that applying this philosophy in other projects demands careful evaluation of resources, climate, and user needs.

Reviewer

★ ArchUp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis of Casa Paseo de la Cantera in Colima:
This article provides a technical analysis of the residential house Casa Paseo de la Cantera in Colima, Mexico, as a case study in contextual architecture that responds to the tropical climate and integrates traditional techniques.

The design is based on the creation of a central interior patio as the heart of the project, organizing natural airflow. It is surrounded by a grid of columns and flat concrete slabs that define the basic structural framework.

The material system features local, artisanal materials. The main facade incorporates a hand-carved stone screen, which functions as a contemporary mashrabiya, filtering direct sunlight and providing cross-ventilation while maintaining privacy.

In terms of climatic performance, the design achieves passive thermal comfort. Wide openings and high ceilings facilitate airflow, while deep overhangs provide protection. The plan organizes open family spaces around the patio, with more enclosed bedrooms for privacy.

Related Insight: Please review this article to explore another project focused on integrating contemporary design with local techniques and concepts in a different context:
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