A striking new vacation home in the wooded landscape of Valle de Bravo, Mexico, is challenging traditional concepts of residential space through innovative architectural design. The Ananda House, completed in 2023 by architectural firm PPAA, spans 606 square meters and serves as a modernist retreat that deliberately blurs the boundaries between public and private areas while creating seamless connections between interior and exterior environments.
The architectural concept centers around a central terrace that functions as the project's organizing principle, acting simultaneously as a dividing element and a unifying connector between different spaces. This innovative approach allows the 606-square-meter residence to unfold around this pivotal outdoor area, promoting constant interaction between indoor and outdoor environments while offering flexibility in how spaces can be used throughout the day.
Designed by a collaborative team including Pablo Pérez Palacios, Emilio Calvo, Miguel Vargas, Nancy Estévez, Adán García, Andrés Domínguez, and Sergio Delgado, the house consists of two interconnected volumes that explore the duality and adaptability of residential spaces. The central terrace serves multiple functions, transforming from a private sanctuary for reflection and contemplation into an open communal space that fully integrates with the surrounding natural landscape.
The structure's most distinctive feature is its gabled roof design, which not only complements the overall architectural aesthetic but also responds intelligently to the local climate conditions and landscape characteristics of Valle de Bravo. This roofline helps the building harmonize with its mountainous surroundings while providing practical benefits for weather protection and natural ventilation.
Environmental sensitivity played a crucial role in the design process, with architects carefully incorporating an existing mature tree on the property into the house's layout. This thoughtful integration demonstrates a deep respect for the natural context and establishes an ongoing dialogue between the built environment and the existing ecosystem, ensuring that the architecture enhances rather than dominates the site.
Throughout the residence, large floor-to-ceiling windows maximize natural light penetration while framing spectacular views of the surrounding garden and forest landscape. These expansive glazed surfaces reinforce the house's central theme of dissolving barriers between indoor and outdoor living, allowing residents and guests to maintain visual and experiential connections with nature from every room.
The Ananda House represents a compelling example of contemporary Mexican architecture that challenges conventional residential design while creating spaces that continuously evolve throughout the day and seasons. By making the terrace the heart of the home, the architects have created a dynamic living environment where traditional boundaries between public and private spaces fade away, offering a new model for vacation home design that prioritizes flexibility, natural integration, and the celebration of outdoor living.
