Mexico City-based architecture firm Estudio Atemporal has unveiled Queña House, a climate-responsive residential retreat located in Oaxaca that seamlessly blends traditional vernacular forms with contemporary design principles. The innovative dwelling, positioned to capture panoramic ocean views while incorporating the soothing sounds of the nearby sea, represents a sophisticated approach to sustainable architecture that prioritizes natural climate control over mechanical systems.
The house's most striking feature is its expansive, light-framed roof inspired by the traditional palapa, a iconic roofing structure commonly found throughout Mexico. This large overhead canopy serves multiple environmental functions, providing essential protection from both intense sun exposure and seasonal rainfall while simultaneously facilitating natural ventilation throughout the interior spaces. The roof design demonstrates how traditional building techniques can be reinterpreted for modern residential architecture while maintaining their practical benefits.
Estudio Atemporal organized Queña House across two distinct levels, each serving different functions and responding to the site's natural topography. The lower level is strategically partially embedded into the existing terrain, creating what the architects describe as a heavy, stone-like base that anchors the structure to its surroundings. This ground-level area accommodates three separate guest bedrooms along with essential service spaces, all designed to open directly onto carefully planned garden areas that encourage constant interaction between indoor and outdoor environments.
The upper level takes a dramatically different architectural approach, sitting lightly above the solid foundation and housing the home's primary living spaces as well as the master bedroom beneath the signature expansive roof. A monumental concrete staircase, conceived and executed as a sculptural element, cuts dramatically through the center of the entire home. This striking architectural feature serves multiple purposes, effectively dividing the public and private areas while functioning as both the primary circulation core and a powerful visual anchor that connects the two levels and guides movement toward the pool area.
The overall floor plan follows a distinctive L-shaped configuration that was specifically designed to guide movement through the site while creating varied spatial experiences through changing perspectives and scales. This thoughtful layout supports seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living spaces, consistently prioritizing passive comfort strategies including cross ventilation, abundant natural lighting, and strategic shading over energy-intensive mechanical climate control systems.
Sustainability features extend beyond the building's passive design elements to include practical environmental systems. A sophisticated rainwater collection system has been fully integrated into the roof structure, offering the residents seasonal self-sufficiency in water usage and further strengthening the connection between the home and its natural environment. Strategic window placement and carefully planned openings throughout the structure invite cooling cross-breezes, control sunlight penetration, and frame spectacular views of the coastal landscape.
The material palette reflects a deep commitment to local building traditions while avoiding simple imitation of historical forms. Queña House incorporates warm, tactile materials and breathable surface treatments that connect directly to regional construction heritage. The architects have skillfully reworked familiar forms and time-tested techniques to meet contemporary living requirements without merely copying traditional approaches. A wooden structural framework, beginning at ground level, creates the essential support system for the wooden, tile-covered roof that crowns the entire composition.
The architectural firm's approach to Queña House represents a thoughtful balance between environmental responsibility and comfortable modern living. By integrating vernacular building wisdom with contemporary design sensibilities, Estudio Atemporal has created a residence that responds intelligently to its coastal Oaxacan environment while providing a sophisticated retreat for its occupants. The project demonstrates how traditional architectural knowledge can inform modern sustainable design practices without sacrificing comfort or aesthetic appeal.
