“Casa Yuu' Kee' (which means “stone creek” in the Zapotec language) takes its name from the creek that runs through the site, which separates the social area from the private area of the house, that are connected by a bridge.
The project is conceived as a sequence of volumes that gradually reveal themselves as the path descends toward the sea. Rather than imposing themselves on the landscape, these pieces merge with it, like rocks naturally embedded in the mountain, carefully adapting to the site’s slope — from the street at the top level of the site down to the main pavilion located at the edge of the cliff. From this point, the architecture opens longitudinally to capture the best view of the Pacific Ocean, establishing a constant dialogue between the interior spaces and the horizon.
Access is on the top part of the property. A pedestrian pathway winds through the vegetation, descending gradually and allowing for a slow, contemplative approach. Parallel to it, a narrow road allows small vehicles to reach the middle section of the complex, facilitating access without disrupting the experience of the journey.
Both routes converge on a “plaza” that functions as a distribution point. From here, the project’s three main areas are articulated: on one side, the main house pavilion and bedrooms, arranged along the lower portion of the site, parallel to the sea; on the other, the studio and service area, connected to the public reception “plaza”; and finally, the guest casitas, which are distributed on the hillside, between the trees in order to preserve the privacy on the compound.
The main pavilion is revealed as one descends from the “plaza” through two walls that strategically frame an opening which, once crossed, unveils the ocean view for the first time. At the bottom of the staircase is the infinity pool, which visually merges with the ocean beyond. The volume of the house, conceived as a flexible cube, can be completely enclosed, partially opened through shutters that provide shade and cross ventilation, or fully open through large wooden doors that dissolve the boundary between the interior and the seafront.
The materiality reinforces the project’s intention of integrating with its surroundings. Most of the materials are sourced locally: macuil wood for the carpentry, guapinol wood for the structure, and stone from the site or nearby quarries for patios and stairways. The roof of the main pavilion reinterprets local tradition of the “palapa” (thatched roof), while the walls, finished in pigmented polished cement in earthy brown tones, evoke the changing colors of the landscape throughout the different seasons of the year.
The project embraces the patina of time as an essential part of its identity. Exposure to the elements and the passing of time will gradually transform the surfaces, giving the volumes character and depth. Exposed concrete, present throughout the complex, not only resolves the structural challenges of the steep slope, but also acts as a living canvas that engages in dialogue with nature and reveals the passage of time.
San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca, Mexico
Area / 985 m² built area
Architecture / em-estudio _ Francisco Javier Esqueda Martínez + Ivan Esqueda Martínez
Architectural Drawings / Berenice Galindo
Landscape Design / Bardana
Construction / Emanuele Attanzio _ José Luis Reyes Ortiz
Photography / Nin Solis _ Ivan Esqueda Martínez
Year / 2025
