Project Name: House Rinconada

Location: Malinalco, Mexico

Design Team: Oioioi

Total Floor Area: 1110 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Cesar Belio

Design Features:

Project - Mexican architecture studio Oioioi completed the House Rinconada project in Malinalco, creating a subtle dialogue between architecture, landscape, and living through this 1110-square-meter residence situated in a privileged natural setting. The project unfolds on a single level, prioritizing horizontality as a strategy to blend harmoniously with the land and surrounding garden, demonstrating how contemporary design can achieve profound impact through restraint rather than bold gestures.

The project's most compelling design feature lies in its linear arrangement of stone volumes------a series of monolithic stone blocks arranged in linear succession, defined by walls of constant height that emphasize spatial and structural continuity. Above these volumes, horizontal planes of exposed concrete rest like floating roofs, generating deep shadows and framing specific views of the landscape. This tectonic gesture provides unity to the ensemble, while the intermediate voids allow for controlled entry of light and natural ventilation.

Oioioi's masterful control of material expression seamlessly integrates traditional building techniques with contemporary architectural language. The construction system combines volcanic stone masonry and cast-in-place concrete, both low-maintenance materials with strong local roots. The material palette integrates harmoniously with the indigenous vegetation, reinforcing the sense of permanence and serenity throughout the composition.

The relationship between architecture and landscape demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of environmental stewardship. The landscape design is envisioned as a natural extension of the field, with chosen species primarily consisting of wild plants and shallow bodies of water that promote biodiversity, reduce water consumption, and bring seasonal dynamism to the ensemble. The house does not impose itself on the site: it rests upon it.

This thoughtful treatment of the interplay between mass and void creates an ever-changing spatial experience that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior. The intermediate spaces not only control light penetration and facilitate cross-ventilation but also serve as spatial connectors linking different parts of the architecture. House Rinconada is more than just a residence------it becomes a spatial meditation on architectural humility, environmental sensitivity, and gentle reconnection with nature's essential rhythms.

Design Team - Oioioi stands as a distinguished architectural practice located in Mexico City, specializing in architectural design and construction since its establishment in 2019. Under the leadership of founding principals Ernesto Pérez Rea Juncá and Pablo Germenos García, the firm has cultivated a distinctive design philosophy that challenges conventional design paradigms through multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous experimentation.

The studio's design excellence manifests through its questioning of traditional architectural dichotomies------the boundaries between physical and intangible, historical and contemporary, holistic and detailed. This approach generates architectural solutions that resist uniformity while maintaining rigorous design standards. Oioioi's multidisciplinary ethos extends beyond conventional architectural services, functioning as both design studio and construction practice.

Oioioi's architectural methodology demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of spatial relationships, material properties, and environmental responsiveness. Their projects consistently exhibit masterful tectonic craftsmanship, thoughtful integration of natural elements, and contextual sensitivity that respects local building traditions while embracing progressive design principles. The practice operates with a multidisciplinary spirit and collaborative approach, drawing nourishment from the synergy of teamwork, making exploration and continuous learning the cornerstone of their practice.

The firm's design thinking revolves around seeking to combine diverse perspectives to reimagine what is possible in architecture, with each project evolving in response to continuous feedback loops, testimony to their commitment to resisting uniformity. Through comprehensive professional services including architectural design and construction, Oioioi is committed to challenging the traditional boundaries that define architectural paradigms through innovative design practices, demonstrating unique innovative spirit and environmental sensitivity within the contemporary Mexican architectural landscape.