Contemporary Residence With A Large And Serene Backyard

This is a residence located in Merida, Mexico. It occupies 270 square meters on a site that measures around 1000 square meters. The project was conducted by Mauricio Gallegos Arquitectos and was completed in 2015. The beautiful landscape of the Yocatan Peninsula inspired them to create a house that’s strongly linked to its surroundings and which communicates with the outdoors in a seamless and natural manner.

The residence sits on a large site which allows it to have a big backyard with a pool and a lawn
The residence sits on a large site which allows it to have a big backyard with a pool and a lawn
The social areas are lined up longitudinally and they're all open to the backyard, featuring sliding glass doors
The social areas are lined up longitudinally and they’re all open to the backyard, featuring sliding glass doors

The house is closed to the West and opens to the East and this type of orientation ensures that the inhabitants have lots of privacy but at the same time are connected to the large backyard. This way the interior spaces are intimate but also open, bright and airy. As far as the overall architecture and structure of the house are concerned, this is a project defined by a clean and simple geometry, with a total lack of unnecessary features.

The geometry of the house is a very simple and clean one, defined by large blocks
The geometry of the house is a very simple and clean one, defined by large blocks
The lot is populated with lots of trees, some of which are very big. These are landmarks for the site
The lot is populated with lots of trees, some of which are very big. These are landmarks for the site

The architects used efficient materials and construction methods to maintain a pleasant simplicity throughout. Even though the interior living spaces are seamlessly connected both to each other and to the backyard, they also each feel intimate thanks to the dividing walls that extend outside, separating the concrete patio into sections.

A large trees flanks the backyard, offering shade for a cozy lounge area by the pool
A large trees flanks the backyard, offering shade for a cozy lounge area by the pool
The yard is big and the lawn is manicured and lines with small trees along a solid wall
The yard is big and the lawn is manicured and lined with small trees along a solid wall

The interior of the house is organized around two axis. The circulation area links the spaces longitudinally and a second axis divides them into two zones: private and public. The intersection of these two axis results in four big sections. There’s the service area, the public zone, the social area and the private area. The service spaces are placed along the circulation gallery.

The interior spaces are perfectly lined up, featuring clean and simple layout without unnecessary structural elements
The interior spaces are perfectly lined up, featuring clean and simple layout without unnecessary structural elements
The back yard features a square-shaped swimming pool framed with concrete decks
The backyard features a square-shaped swimming pool framed with concrete decks

The backyard is vast and with clean cut lines and a very tranquil and relaxing simplicity. The swimming pool is embedded into the ground, framed on all four sides by a concrete deck. A manicured lawn fills the rest of the yard. A large concrete wall serves as a dividing fence between the property and the street and neighboring estates. Small trees are planted along the wall. In time they’ll grow and form a green fence.

The kitchen, dining area and living room are linked into an open floor plan with access to the pool
The kitchen, dining area and living room are linked into an open floor plan with access to the pool
The social areas has large floor tiles, white walls with a textured finish and minimalist lighting
The social areas has large floor tiles, white walls with a textured finish and minimalist lighting

The interior is bright, open and airy. White is the primary color used on the walls, ceilings and even the floors. It’s combined with other neutrals and with the occasional accent color. The furniture adds a warm touch of chocolate brown which balances out the decor in a really cool and pleasant way.Even the bathroom, despite a lack of color contrasts, looks very serene, welcoming and warm thanks to the textured wall finish.

The color palette is simple and reduced to white and the occasional accent colors
The color palette is simple and reduced to white and the occasional accent colors
The bathroom has a simple and zen decor, which makes its small dimensions a great fit
The bathroom has a simple and zen decor, which makes its small dimensions a great fit