The Weathering House That Slowly Becomes One With The Land

Most architects the importance the surroundings play when designing a new home for someone as well as the impact every building has on the land around it. The Elias Rizo team made it their mission to create a house that could blend with its surroundings and slowly become a natural part of the site. Their project was called GG House.

GG House front facade
The house sits at the edge of a steep slope and has a view of the valley
GG House on slope
The materials were selected for their ability to weather in time and to gain a beautiful patina
GG House panoramic views
An open relationship was created between the interior spaces and the outdoor environment that surrounds them

The architects at Elias Rizo are constantly focused on projects designed to improve each client’s everyday life, paying special attention to the unavoidable impact each structure has on its surroundings. They applied the same principles when building the GG House in Jalisco, Mexico. The project was completed in 2015. This is a weekend house built for a client who wanted a cozy space in a forest clearing on a mountain.

GG House side pathway
An irregular stone pathway runs along the side of the house, framing it and linking its spaces
GG House western terrace
The entrance is placed at the center point of the facade and it splits the interior into two blocks
GG House wooden decks
Both blocks have terraces and offer panoramic views of the valley and mountains

The client wanted to be able to fully enjoy and admire the surroundings. This meant that the interior spaces had to be connected to the views and to be linked to the outdoor areas in a seamless and natural manner. The house sits on a steep site and this gives it a panoramic views of the valley but also of the mountains and the volcano in the distance.

GG House covered terrace
At one end of the house there’s a covered deck that serves as an extension of the interior living spaces
GG House large windows
Large windows bring in lots of natural light and open the spaces to the views
GG House terrace view of valley
The front facade is the most spectacular because it overlooks the valley and the forest

The rugged topography meant that the house had to become a part of the land itself. As a result, the architects built in on a series of terraces carved into the hill and gave it a garage that sinks into the site, being framed by stone. The entrance is situated at the top and it splits the interior floor plan into two equal blocks.

GG House reflective facade
The glazed parts of the facade reflect the beautiful surroundings
GG House steel facade
The architects had the idea to use lacquered steel panels for the facade in order to gradually let in blend in

The facade of the house is lined with lacquered steel plates wchich age with time just like the rest of the materials used in the project. Over time, the steel oxidizes and gains a patina which will eventually allow it to look a lot like the earth and the land surrounding it this beautiful weekend house.

GG House social area
The two blocks allow a good organization of the spaces based on the functions they serve
GG House living and dining areas
The living area, dining space and the kitchen share an open floor plan

The eastern block houses the social part of the house, linking the living room, dining space and kitchen into an open plan with picture windows. There’s a very cozy ambiance here thanks to the fireplace, the wood accents and the rustic-industrial furniture. The western block contains thr master bedroom, two guest bedrooms and their en-suites, a separate guest bathroom and a laundry area.

GG House master bedroom
The bedrooms occupy the second blocks and form a more private zone