Casa Gavion by Collectivo Mx is a private eco home in Baja, Mexico that makes use of passive design, regional materials and emotional architecture. Luis Barragán, who is considered to have reinvented Mexican modern architecture, said “I believe in emotional architecture,” and this was what Collectivo Mx was trying to evoke through the Casa Gavion. Their use of massive proportions, volumes, forms, textures and colors was all aimed to move feelings and emotions. The studio designed the home so that each room had access to the outdoors and windows slide open to connect with terraces and courtyards. A rock tower climbs above the home to enjoy 360 degree views of the Sea of Cortez, the surrounding landscape and the adjacent golf course.
The home features no air conditioning and all cooling is provided via passive means. Gabions, which are normally seen along highways as retaining walls, are reinvented here as a shade screen and shield the home from the intense sun, but allow air to move through the space. Thick insulation on the roof protects the home from overheating, while natural ventilation and cross breezes keep it cool. Regional materials and local labor were used to build the home, which was also designed for durability and low maintenance. In addition the home also features a solar energy system, a grey water system, and an ingenious pool design which integrates a dipping pool, a swimming pool and a jacuzzi reduces the water consumption generally used in homes with pools.
Via Design Milk
Images ©LA76
