Casa Liquen: Clay Floors and Cool Shade by the Pacific Coast
Casa Liquen sits a few minutes from the beach in Chacala, Nayarit, Mexico, conceived as a house that edges toward a boutique hospitality vibe. Designed by FinoLozano, the four-level project leans into material craft to meet coastal conditions and guest comfort. Clay floors, pigmented wall finishes, and wood pergolas do practical work while setting a warm mood for rooms that open to terraces and salt‑washed light.
Late sun rakes across clay underfoot, carrying the day’s warmth into evening breezes. Beyond the terrace, water throws back a faint turquoise shimmer against pigmented walls.
This is a coastal house in Chacala, Nayarit, by FinoLozano, organized across four levels and tuned to a humid, salt‑laden climate through material choices. The build pivots on craft and durability: custom block for thermal mass, clay for tactility, pigment and timber for shade and light.
Shape Heat With Block
A customized hollow block forms the envelope of the seven rooms, thickening the walls to hold cool air through the hottest hours. Its cavities moderate temperature and cut radiant gain, a quiet engine for comfort that suits both a rest house and its evolution into a small boutique operation. Every room gains autonomy with a bathroom and bar‑kitchenette, so daily rhythms stay easy.
Set Clay Underfoot
Carefully laid clay floors anchor the palette with earthy color and a touchable texture. They read warm at dawn and steady through midday, tying circulation, rooms, and terraces with a single material line. Under bare feet, the finish carries a grounded feel that keeps the house informal yet composed.
Pigment, Water, Light
Walls receive a pigmented paste that softens every arch and leaves a fine, imperfect grain meant to age well. The same finish wraps the pool, turning vessel and building into one monolithic tone, then letting water tint the terrace with shifting reflections. Wide openings, fitted with Rosa Morada shutters and doors, catch the deep blue sky and draw color inside without glare.
Wood Shade Lines
Handcrafted pergolas in Palo Maria run across façades, over the pool edge, and up to a roof terrace with an outdoor shower. Their slats cut harsh sun into narrow bands of shade that move through the day, cooling thresholds and giving the walls a living pattern. Recessed rooms and stepped terraces keep the mass gentle against the street while preserving privacy and views.
Coastal Durability
Every choice nods to salt air and maintenance in a growing tourist town. Materials resist corrosion, woodwork is robust, and the assembly favors finishes that wear in rather than wear out. The result suits short stays and longer pauses alike (the program’s shift proves the build’s resilience).
Evening gathers on the upper terrace as the hill darkens and the sea holds a last strip of light. Shadows from the pergola taper and fade, and the clay keeps its quiet warmth. The house settles into the night with the simple cadence of material, air, and tide.
Photography by Rafael Palacios Macías
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