In the upper part of Valle de Bravo town, on a site with a complex and irregular topography, Casa Valle is built. After a steep climb, vertical planes of glass, steel, and wood appear among pine trunks. Above them, a concrete platform projects out from the treetops, hovering over a rocky slope with its vegetation.
Ascending the slope, one accesses the house through a glazed vestibule nestled among rock gardens, succulents, herbs, and shrubs. Responding to the limitations of levels and height, the house unfolds according to the slope of the land, a gesture accentuated by the counter-inclination of the concrete ceiling.
The house is divided into two volumes with opposingly sloping roofs. The four bedrooms, facing the pine trees and a backyard, are located in the more secluded portion of the property. The main volume, housing the kitchen and living area, sits atop a striking concrete platform. With subtle changes in level, the living and dining rooms rise to a spacious balcony offering excellent views of the lake and valley.
The trapezoidal space of this volume is defined by a sequence of wood and steel frames supporting a sloping roof. The main facade, facing south, features a similar rhythm of wood and steel posts, each longer than the last as the roof rises. Here, the continuous shifts in light and shadow are visible as the sun moves across the landscape, creating a soft, watercolor-like dynamic of lines on the neutral interior walls and floors. The facade acts as a keyboard, while the interior space of the house becomes a resonating chamber for the subtle compositions of light that unfold throughout the day and year. The house successfully captures the presence of the surrounding forest.
The staircase that traverses the levels is part of a double-height structure integrated into the overall design; a latticework screen separating the more public areas from the access to the bedrooms. Perpendicular to the house's orientation, a third, smaller element extends towards the landscape. Beneath this mezzanine level is the open kitchen with access to a stone terrace and a cantilevered pool.
