Located in Valle de Bravo a forested area in central Mexico, Las Nubes is a luxury single-family residence designed by Chain + Siman for a couple seeking a contemporary retreat within the forest. The project stands out for its integration with a steeply sloping site, its use of views over a golf course, and the subtle dialogue it establishes between architecture and vegetation. Its character is defined by contemporary atmospheres with Nordic influences, where the natural black clay-tiled roofs contrast with warm-toned wooden interiors.
The house is positioned at the highest point of the plot, overlooking the third hole of the golf course. This decision was part of a strategy to maximise the views without wasting the potential of the land, bringing the house next to the clouds, a reference to the name of the project, Las Nubes. A vehicular access route ascends the slope to a covered garage, from which the vertical circulation core is accessed. Only one level needs to be climbed to reach the main areas, allowing for a direct and comfortable circulation path without requiring a large number of steps despite the terrain’s conditions. The south-facing façade towards the street has a discrete language, composed of black brick blocks, a timber screen for privacy, and landscaping that creates a vestibule-like entrance while providing solar protection.
The home is organised into two main pitched-roof volumes, referencing the rural architectural typology of Valle de Bravo, where rains are intense. The northern volume contains most of the public programme: a covered terrace, main kitchen, dining room, a large outdoor terrace with a sunbed area, and a pool with forest views to the north. To the south, half a level below, is a family room with a suspended fireplace and a gravel-covered outdoor patio. Framed by a sloped roof, this latter space allows direct immersion in the natural surroundings and becomes a contemplative spot, where sunset views are framed as a daily spectacle.
Inside, the architecture seeks to create an enveloping atmosphere through continuous wooden walls, ceilings and floors, resulting in a warm and welcoming spatial quality. In the social area, a pitched-roof volume with full-height windows draws the eye outward, while a suspended fireplace emphasises the space’s verticality and adds a Nordic design gesture. The kitchen, built from flamed San Gabriel black granite and timber, opens visually onto the rear garden, where railway sleepers were used to retain the natural slope. This space connects to an outdoor kitchen, located beneath the main terrace, featuring a stone table over a gravel patio to enjoy the forest while sharing a meal.
Each space responds to different moments of the day and modes of inhabitation. From lingering at the outdoor dining table, to relaxing in the jacuzzi or watching television in the lounge, Las Nubes offers a variety of atmospheres for entertaining guests or enjoying time with family. The terraces and patios create distinct zones—some more social, others more introspective—that allow occupants to spread out without sacrificing a sense of togetherness. Lighting plays a key role, with recessed track systems providing flexibility in each area and indirect lighting used to create warmer, more intimate moods.
The main bedroom includes a mezzanine functioning as a home office, making use of the double-height ceiling. All bedrooms enjoy cross views of the surrounding vegetation, reinforcing the feeling of being suspended among the treetops. On the lower floor are the service areas next to the garage, as well as a ramp flanked by stone walls that form part of the landscape design.
The landscaping, led by Pedro Sánchez, is essential in a project so embedded in its natural context. Existing trees were preserved and natural clearings respected, while the decision to locate the house at the top of the site allowed over 70% of the plot to remain as green area. The gardens were planted with shade-tolerant species, arranged across slopes, terraces, pathways and gathering areas. Selected species include shrubs such as helecho chivo, helecho derivan bosque, helecho peine, ombú and eleagnus; groundcovers like hedera helix, Tasmanian violet, dichondra repens and bark mulch; and trees such as Carpinus caroliniana and river elm. This plant palette adds freshness, diversity, and a sensory layer that enriches the domestic experience.
From a technical perspective, the house features Duovent windows, hydronic heating, synthetic PVC decking, cross ventilation and passive temperature regulation strategies. Exterior lighting is indirect, with discreet wall-mounted fixtures that preserve the house’s subtle presence at night while highlighting the black-tiled roofs.
All furnishings were custom-designed and manufactured by Chain + Siman, ensuring material and spatial coherence throughout. The construction process took a total of 24 months.
