A Tropical House With Beautiful Walls Of Brick And Concrete

San Francisco, also known as San Pancho, is a beautiful tropical town on the central Pacific coast of Mexico. This is where RVO Studio worked on a wonderful project which they completed in 2018. They were asked to design a big house that would capture the beauty of this place and would give off a relaxed holiday-inspired vibe but would also make a great home for its owners.

A big square window frames a section of the spiral staircase and lets natural light into the house
A big square window frames a section of the spiral staircase and lets natural light into the house

The house ended up being structured on three levels and is divided into main zones, one which is the owner’s main home and another for their guests. The architects were inspired by the tropical seaside climate and landscape to create a warm, relaxed, and breezy design. They used contrasting materials such as bricks and concrete to highlight the beautiful architecture of the house and to give it a welcoming appearance.

The facade of the house is a quirky mix of concrete, wood and bricks with contrasting colors, textures and patterns
The facade of the house is a quirky mix of concrete, wood and bricks with contrasting colors, textures and patterns

In the main area of the house we have a big living area with a magnificent spiral staircase as one of its focal points. There’s also a spacious open kitchen and a dining area, a laundry room, two-bedroom, a study, and a guest room. This section of the house has access to a covered terrace, a garden with a pool and an outdoor cinema where the owners can relax and have fun on those breezy summer nights. The guest area has its own separate entrance as well as a private garage which add a sense of independence and freedom. There’s also an outdoor kitchen, a terrace with access to a swimming pool, a ground floor bedroom and another one upstairs as well as a spa and a massage room. All of these elements turn the Sundaram House into an amazing tropical retreat.

The cantilevered top floor forms a covered terrace in between the two volumes
The cantilevered top floor forms a covered terrace in between the two volumes
The main living area has access to a small garden with a rectangular pool pushed against the back wall
The main living area has access to a small garden with a rectangular pool pushed against the back wall
The front of the house has elongated horizontal windows which welcome the natural light inside without exposing the interior
The front of the house has elongated horizontal windows which welcome the natural light inside without exposing the interior
The main entrance is dominated by a majestic spiral staircase made out of flat concrete and wood
The main entrance is dominated by a majestic spiral staircase made out of flat concrete and wood
The floating stairs and the curved concrete walls complement each other and give the staircase an organic look
The floating stairs and the curved concrete walls complement each other and give the staircase an organic look
The open walkway on the top floor offers a nice view of the main entrance and the living area down below
The open walkway on the top floor offers a nice view of the main entrance and the living area down below
The guest area has an alternative entrance and a linear staircase with a chic and urban vibe
The guest area has an alternative entrance and a linear staircase with a chic and urban vibe
An outdoor kitchen is tucked into the corner of the terrace, inviting guests to spend more time outside
An outdoor kitchen is tucked into the corner of the terrace, inviting guests to spend more time outside
The sculptural concrete wall sections let light filter through and are a stylish alternative to regular windows
The sculptural concrete wall sections let light filter through and are a stylish alternative to regular windows
The exposed brick cladding helps to make the house and its expansive outdoor areas feel warm and inviting
The exposed brick cladding helps to make the house and its expansive outdoor areas feel warm and inviting
All the lush and tropical greenery around the house help to create a very relaxed and soothing atmosphere
All the lush and tropical greenery around the house help to create a very relaxed and soothing atmosphere

Photographs: Marcos García