Casa Lluvia Blanca is a contemporary, property in the heart of a historic Mexican city. San Miguel de Allende, basically the arts and crafts capital of Mexico, has over time developed a distinctive blend of contemporary and traditional culture. Finished in early 2011 from the husband-wife team at House + House Architects, Casa Lluvia Blanca is a striking representation of the mixture.
Built for a few with an innate international style (she is from San Francisco, he’s from Denmark, and they reside in London), the clients wanted the layout of the house to have three main influences: Moroccan, traditional Mexican, along with a sudden dose of contemporary. Thanks to Steven and Cathi House’s impeccable designs along with the wonderful craftsmanship of builder Guadalupe Gonzalez and his crew, all three styles are clearly visible throughout the home.
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A lengthy lap pool welcomes the owners in the front entry. Three working water slides at a rustic stone wall add to the tropical ambiance. Cathi and Steven had their crew in San Miguel look high and low for the best rock to add to this accent wall. After coming up empty in local quarries, the crew ended up digging out some gorgeous rocks by hand in a rancher’s home 30 miles outside San Miguel.
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Considering that the building is so high and narrow, three courtyards were sprinkled throughout the design of the home to let natural light into the interior. The storyline that the few picked out is an odd shape, a combination of three backyard areas. However, it’s also beautiful and very personal, along with the customer’s spouse fell in love with it instantly.
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Cathi and Steven worked on all interior details in addition to designing the exterior. The custom metal and glass railings throughout are gently curved. The lighting was imported from Morocco.
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Natural lighting played a substantial role in the property’s design. “The three Moroccan domes Cathi designed are magnificent,” says Steven. “The lighting comes into the home and dances round the house at various times of day.” Here, the exact same light fixture from the former photograph can be viewed while lying on among the living room’s built-in couches (see next photograph ).
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The floors within this most important living room are a gorgeous travertine marble acid-washed to start the crystals. From the dome into the railings and curved built-ins, it is clear circular contours are a frequent theme in this house. Cathi found this architectural option serendipitously while playing with templates. “I am probably the only architect residing that still pulls by hand,” she jokes.
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The curves continue in the dining area, in which a ceiling accent over a custom mesquite table is mirrored in 2 cast-concrete fittings on the floor. While these pieces was made into a storage space, the other is actually a fireplace. If you look closely, there are tiny flames coming from the cement bit into the lower left.
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Neighborhood handmade tile covers the kitchen backsplash, countertops and floor. The cabinets, also done by hand, are made from alder. “Our crew in San Miguel doesn’t actually use any power tools,” says Cathi. “Each area of the house is made out of someone’s hands, which adds a very beautiful quality to our job — even the portions of this house that are intended to be more sleek.”
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The master suite definitely emanates the vivid colors and bold textiles of Morocco, among the clients’ favorite places to travel. A little fireplace and private outdoor area complete the enchanting ambiance of the room.
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Like everything else at the house, the gorgeous bathtub in the master bathroom was made by hand. Cathi and Steven assembled a steel frame for the huge bathtub, and poured in concrete using a smooth end.
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The second floor of the house contains the two other main suites. Each suite contains a bedroom, bath and outdoor area.
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Among the suite’s baths has a stunning shower that seems to burst with silvery light. Glass block alternates with bubble- shaped ceramic tile on the shower wall, whereas sleek travertine marble floor grounds the rest of the room.
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The studio and workroom on the third floor of the house has a much more modern vibe compared to the rest of the home. Considering that the husband is out of Copenhagen, obtaining a section devoted to his love of Scandinavian-like layout was important to the clients.
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When first seeing the finished house, the clients were surprised by the home’s generous height and quantity. “The way in which the house flows feels really natural and lovely,” says Cathi. “Our design process is extremely organic, and it shows here. Everything is designed in a really natural way.”
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A little kitchenette allow the clients to earn a quick snack or meal upstairs, too. “We look very much together with the journey of life,” says Cathi. “It’s about taking the mundane things that you do every day and observing them through architecture. Every little detail things. That’s what we attempt to concentrate on.”
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An outdoor area beyond the third floor includes a stairway into a rooftop spa, also made by hand. They did not go and try to find a hot tub at some big warehouse store, Cathi states. “We wanted this to have the same touch as the rest of the house, so it had been made by our exceptionally talented crew.”
More ideas:
Houzz Escape: Down Old Mexico Way
Bold Moroccan Design for Today’s Interiors
Browse additional photographs from Mexico City
