Cantilevered House Perched Dramatically On A Steep Slope

This is a house with a mission: to make the most of the beautiful landscape which surrounds it and to use the difficult topography in its favor. The Herra2 House is located in Monterrey, Mexico. It’s nestled within the foothills of Sierra Madre and sits on a steep slope. Instead of viewing it as an impediment, the architects from studio Landa Suberville chose to make the most of the sloping terrain and to use the inclination in their favor.

The house and all its volumes open up towards the garden and remain closed towards the street
The house and all its volumes open up towards the garden and remain closed towards the street

As a result, they created a cantilever which rises above the landscape and overlooks the beautiful landscape in the distance. This volume is placed horizontally and perpendicularly in relation to the other sections of the house. It’s an elongated structure with a metal frame and an open balcony at the end. Glass railings ensure that the panorama can be admired without visual barriers.

The cantilevered section rises above the foothills and frames the best views in the house
The cantilevered section rises above the foothills and frames the best views in the house
The steep slope on which the house is built provides it with a unique opportunity to take advantage of the views
The steep slope on which the house is built provides it with a unique opportunity to take advantage of the views

The house is more open towards the garden and remains closed off towards the street. This way it gets to enjoy a strong relationship with its immediate surroundings by extending the indoor living spaces towards the exterior. At the same time, it offers the inhabitants privacy and maintains a mysterious allure which is gradually revealed as one gets deeper inside. The social areas are clustered on the ground floor where they have easy access to the garden. There’s also a family room on the top floor and a frosted glass corridor which connects the private rooms but also helps to delineate each individual area at the same time. In total, the house incorporates 650 square meters of living space. The entire project was completed in 2017.

The dramatic placement of the house in relation to its surroundings is better appreciated from a distance
The dramatic placement of the house in relation to its surroundings is better appreciated from a distance
The cantilevered section is supported by metal columns and forms a sheltered area underneath
The cantilevered section is supported by metal columns and forms a sheltered area underneath
The swimming pool is placed right underneath the cantilevered volume and enjoys beautiful views as well
The swimming pool is placed right underneath the cantilevered volume and enjoys beautiful views as well
The house also takes advantage of its immediate surroundings by extending the living spaces outdoors
The house also takes advantage of its immediate surroundings by extending the living spaces outdoors
A selection of local trees and greenery helps the house blend into its surroundings
A selection of local trees and greenery helps the house blend into its surroundings
The gorgeous landscape unfolding in front of the house becomes a part of the building itself
The gorgeous landscape unfolding in front of the house becomes a part of the building itself
Glass railings offer protection without obstructing the views
Glass railings offer protection without obstructing the views
The materials and finishes used throughout the house are generally simple and earthy
The materials and finishes used throughout the house are generally simple and earthy
Nature becomes a part of the interior design as well in various different ways, sometimes subtle and sometimes quite dramatic
Nature becomes a part of the interior design as well in various different ways, sometimes subtle and sometimes quite dramatic