Excerpt: Villa Tulum, designed by the architectural firm NOIZ Architekti, is a residence where natural local vegetation penetrates the land. The site is divided into two parts by the building itself – in front of the villa, there is a forest zone, and behind it, a zone of lower vegetation, but also natural for the area – the Caribbean garden. Therefore, the greenery on the plot is characteristic of the place, but the architecture differs from the local one. Nevertheless, it is designed to respect local conditions and climate as much as possible.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The project of a villa in Mexico is situated in dense forests near the city of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula. Part of the natural local vegetation also penetrates the land. The site is divided into two parts by the building itself – in front of the villa, there is a forest zone, and behind it, a zone of lower vegetation, but also natural for the area – the Caribbean garden. Therefore, the greenery on the plot is characteristic of the place, but the architecture differs from the local one. Nevertheless, it is designed to respect local conditions and climate as much as possible.
The construction of the floor is raised above the level of the existing terrain by means of load-bearing walls to allow natural ventilation under the house. The same principle is used in the construction of the roof, which is laid on five massive concrete beams. The space between the beams allows controlled ventilation by the prevailing winds from the nearby sea.
High humidity and a lot of sun are characteristic of this place, so in addition to ventilation, it was necessary to ensure enough shade so that the house does not overheat indoors and at the same time offers enough living space in the shade outdoors. On its level is a large covered terrace from the side of the Caribbean garden – the “outdoor living room,” which constitutes about a third of the house. The terrace can be closed with sliding walls with nets, thus protecting the inhabitants from insects.
Glass sliding walls line the interior from two main sides, replacing the front and rear facade. Thanks to this solution, the whole space is variable – the boundaries between the interior and the exterior are lost. The main glass area has generous rooms – a living room with a kitchen and bedroom. The load-bearing walls were minimized – the load-bearing stone system consists of two walls – the side perimeter walls and the parallel core of the house, which also surrounds the masonry walls. The core hides functions – wardrobe, hygiene – bathroom for the owner, and a toilet and laundry accessible from the exterior.
The villa was designed with maximum regard to the location and, of course, the owner’s comfort. There is a swimming pool in the middle of the Caribbean garden behind the building, or a tower, which is an important part of the architecture. The stairs in the tower bring one to the roof, where a platform for practicing yoga is created, or even a floor higher, to the very top of the tower with a view of the endless Mexican forests.
Drawings
Images
