Ka’anche House by Ápiron
Situated in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, Ka’anche House is a residence designed by Ápiron with a focus on strong connections to nature and the surrounding landscape. The design features a distinct elevated volume that allows a continuous relationship with the outdoors, utilizing an open layout with natural ventilation.
About Ka’anche House
Inspiration Behind The Project
The concept stems from the intention to create architecture that connects visually and functionally with its immediate surroundings. The house takes its name from the Maya Ka Anche, which means “high bed where plants are sown,” and is inspired by the idea of an elevated volume that separates itself from the natural ground, allowing the creation of intermediate spaces where planters, vegetation, and natural ventilation are integrated, thus forming a large habitable “Ka Anche.” This formal strategy materializes in an upper volume that seems to float over an open ground floor, generating a sense of lightness and continuity with the landscape.
Program And Distribution
The program requested by the client included a four-bedroom house that opened towards the central garden, favoring a constant interior-exterior connection. With this goal, the distribution of spaces was designed so that all bedrooms and social areas faced the center of the complex.
Privacy And Outdoor Spaces
To ensure privacy from the common areas, the house was raised one meter (3.2 feet) above the natural ground level. In the back, private recreational areas were created, such as a pool, a fire pit, and a barbecue, which are arranged according to the topography through a series of platforms at different levels that create varied spatial experiences and take advantage of the natural slope of the land.
Open Social Areas
The social areas on the ground floor completely open towards the front and the back of the property, promoting smooth circulation and direct contact with the outdoors. The multiple terraces surrounding the house allow enjoyment of the natural views of the area, contemplation of the characteristic sunrises and sunsets of the region, as well as clear observation of the night sky.
Materiality
Regarding materiality, local elements were chosen that reinforce the regional identity of the project and harmoniously integrate with the context. The block walls covered with clay plaster provide a warm, earthy tone characteristic of the Baja California Sur environment. White stone from the region was also used in specific walls, adding texture, thermal mass, and a distinctive character. The bathrooms and hallways feature wooden lattice screens that allow light and air to pass through without sacrificing privacy.
Sustainability Principles
This choice of materials responds not only to aesthetic criteria but also to principles of sustainability, low environmental impact, and respect for local construction traditions. The result is a house that promotes outdoor living, fosters a close relationship with the landscape, and offers spaces that adapt to both social dynamics and the natural qualities of the site.
Photography by César Belio
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