PALMA abstracts the mountains past mexico metropolis with its ‘jilotepec’ dwellings

THE HUMBLE JILOTEPEC DWELLINGS IN MEXICO

 

mexico city– and sayulita-based studio PALMA presents a series of dwellings, dubbed jilotepec, that is at once humble, exciting, and rooted in its context. while the compact, stone-built residences are realized with a natural material palette which reflect the local vernacular, they are distinctive in their simple geometries. the design team has taken influence from the dichotomy of its two locations, a vibrant urban context and a pacific coast village. the team’s experience in mexico city has lent a priority toward rebuilding and repairing while the village location taught them to work with a team of locals during the design and build processes.

images courtesy of PALMA | @palmamx

 

 

PALMA’S INFLUENCE FROM THE NATURAL CONTEXT

 

the jilotepec residences by PALMA (see more here) comprise a pair of private houses which rise from a gently sloping landscape. the project is sited along the outskirts of mexico city, and takes on an expression which is informed by its rural context backed by a range of mountain peaks. these cues led to the buildings’ natural materiality of locally sourced stone along with their simple, peaked volumes. the overall material palette includes a facade of terracotta plaster and a roof wrapped in ceramic tiles. masonry walls define two courtyards within each house, united by a communal fire-pit.

the houses are built of locally-sourced stone

the jilotepec residences comprise two dwellings, connected by a communal firepit

the project looks outward to the distant mountains

the simple geometries take shape as abstracted mountain peaks

each dwelling hosts two open-air courtyards at its front and rear

 

 

project info:

 

project title: jilotepec residences

architecture: PALMA | @palmamx

location: mexico

design team: ilse cárdenas, regina de hoyos, diego escamilla, juan luis rivera

project team: joana andrade, tonatiuh armenta, flora block, sofía diez, pablo pérez-alonso, luisa verenguer

completion: 2021