Los Osos House / Agustín Landa Ruiloba

Architects: Agustín Landa Ruiloba
Location: Monterrey, Mexico
Project team: Manuel Martinez, Andrea Fisher, Pablo Bueno, Estela Alvarado, Monica Suberville, Any Zermeño, Daniel Ruiz Trejo, Gerardo Almaguer, Alfredo Ayala, Ruben Barragan, Carlos Cabrera, Carlos Fonseca, Oscar Gonzalez
Photographs: Javier Orozco, Rodrigo Ramos

Located on the top of a rise, the house forms part of a private development in the south of Monterrey. The fan-shaped lot is flat at the narrow top part, sloping down as it opens up to the south views of the Sierra Madre and the rest of the development.

Access is by way of ramps which move through the house, allowing the visitor to discover it before, during, and after crossing the threshold. The walking entrance leads to a triple-height patio delimited by the house proper and a sectioning of the lot marked by a reflecting pool which contrasts with the hardness of the space.

plan 02

As of the vestibule the three-storey house divides in two volumes, one perpendicular to the other and both expressive of their separate functions: an open volume for the public areas and the master bedroom; a closed one for the private areas.

The rooftop functions as a large social space: game room, terraces, gardens, swimming pool. A light roof offers protection to these areas and unity to the geometry of walls and railings. The horizontality of the large cantilevered overhangs, ledges, terraces, and walkways provides a counterpoint to the verticality of the terrain, conveying greater lightness. The materials-local stone, wood, steel, and glass – offer a sense of belonging to the place.