Casa Caribu is located to the west of the Guadalajara metropolitan area in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco México. This area is adjacent to the Protected Natural Area of the Bosque de la Primavera, one of the largest natural spaces surrounding the city. Fortunately, the subdivision where Casa Caribu is situated lies at the edge of this zone, where the predominant forest of pines and oaks, due to the area’s altitude, integrates the house into this natural conservation system. The site’s topographical features, set within a wooded environment and at considerable elevation, include moderately steep terrain and abundant oak vegetation, which are integral to the Bosque de la Primavera natural system. These characteristics endow the site with significant potential and conservation value.
Program The architectural layout of the house is designed to preserve the existing trees, with over 80% retained. Considering the distribution of vegetation and the existing topography, the design of the house revolves around a central courtyard. This layout is inspired by Mexican architectural traditions dating back to pre- Columbian times, which have influenced 19th and 20th-century colonial architecture, as well as contemporary Guadalajara architecture. The exterior facade of the house remains understated and blends into the surrounding environment. Internally, the house is organized around the central courtyard and the existing topography, creating a seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces.
The overall volumetry is distributed around the courtyard through four interconnected volumes. Daytime spaces such as the foyer, kitchen, and dining room are positioned close to the street and are linked with the courtyard. Behind the dining room, a double-height staircase connects to a study on a lower level, surrounded by a large window wall overlooking a side patio enclosed by vegetation and oaks. Adjacent to the foyer are the more intimate spaces: the living room, TV room, and bedrooms. Due to the topography, the bedrooms are spread across two levels. The lower level features the master bedroom and associated services, with access to an exterior terrace surrounded by oaks and vegetation. On the upper level, the open circulation around the courtyard includes two bedrooms and the service area. The third level hosts the most open part of the house—a terrace offering views of the topography and connecting with the Bosque de la Primavera protected area.
Materiality / Structure The materiality and structure of Casa Caribu are based on the three fundamental systems of a house: foundation, containment walls, and a protective roof. The foundation consists of exposed concrete, forming retaining walls that support masonry walls of brick, covered with a traditional lime plaster that imparts an ochre tone to the house and defines the interior spaces. To complement and contain the interior spaces, a secondary metal structure with metal beams and framing integrates into the mixed structural system of the house, enclosing the central courtyard and fostering an interior-exterior relationship.
Flooring is categorized into two types: polished concrete in public areas and engineered wood in private spaces. The roof features a traditional lightweight clay tile, supported by a frame and wooden beams. Exposed concrete slabs are used for the floors between different levels. Interior finishes include handcrafted solid rosewood carpentry and custom-designed furniture for the kitchen, bedrooms, and other areas of Casa Caribu. Sustainability Casa Caribu addresses sustainability through four key aspects: existing vegetation, materiality, water systems, and the use of traditional natural construction techniques.
Given the site’s geographical and natural conditions, which are part of the pine and oak forest system of the Bosque de la Primavera, efforts were made to preserve as many existing oak trees as possible and maintain the natural conditions of the land. Additionally, new native shrub and herbaceous vegetation was carefully selected to support pollinator fauna, aiding in natural vegetation reproduction and contributing to the conservation of mountainous ecosystems and biological diversity. The materials used in the house are predominantly natural and employed in traditional construction processes that minimize environmental impact.
Natural materials such as clay used in masonry walls and roofing tiles are significant components. These walls are covered with a biodegradable lime plaster that enhances the house’s thermal efficiency, providing durability and requiring less energy in production. Furthermore, the house’s water system and design contribute to natural groundwater recharge through sloped roofs and the preservation of garden soil, allowing for permeability and supporting the natural water cycle. Rainwater is captured in a secondary treatment cistern for reuse in sanitary fixtures and irrigation of both new and existing vegetation.
Landscape design Given the natural and geographical conditions of the site as a pine and oak forest, efforts focused on preserving this natural environment by protecting and maintaining over 80% of the existing oak trees. The plant palette aims to conserve natural biodiversity through native shrub and herbaceous vegetation that supports pollination and vegetation reproduction. Various garden areas were created using stone retaining walls and natural flooring, including the study garden with additional shrub species, the central courtyard with pollinator plants, the pond patio with stone retaining walls and intimate vegetation, and the general garden around the master bedroom terrace, designed to maintain a natural environment surrounded by the forest oaks
