Stables linked by steel bridges and a clubhouse with a cantilevered terrace feature at the Hípico Piedra Grande equestrian complex in rural Mexico, designed by Studio RC.
Located in Huixquilucan in the State of Mexico, the complex includes a rectilinear clubhouse and a block of stables surrounded by gravel roads and green areas and meandering riding trails.
Mexican architecture office Studio RC arranged the building around a central patio and positioned it on the hillside to complement the natural surroundings.
The low-slung clubhouse was constructed from a skeleton of columns and steel beams, which are also exposed on the interior.
The building’s facade is defined by rugged stone walls and a timber roof – materials sourced from the area.
“The project seeks to alter the site as little as possible, looking for a contemporary language that in turn was appropriate for the context,” said the studio.
A gap was created between the clubhouse’s stone retaining walls and its interior spaces in order to create cross ventilation, while the building’s terrace gently cantilevers off the hillside.
Spread across three modules on two levels, the stables are positioned below the clubhouse and are connected by steel bridges, which create another open central patio used for walking horses.
Dark grey concrete was used for the angular facade, while each module is characterised by sets of wooden shutters.
The stables’ uniform geometry is interrupted only by a sawtooth roof that tops one of the modules and takes advantage of natural light during the day and also captures rainwater for reuse.
Inside, Studio RC chose a recycled material for the stables’ flooring, which was designed to control the acoustics as well as provide suitable traction for walking horses.
The clubhouse interiors feature a similar simplicity. Board-formed concrete walls match pared-back neutral furniture while floor-to-ceiling glazing provides expansive views of the surrounding greenery.
Elsewhere in Mexico, 1540 Arquitectura created stables from a series of triangular structures while Matias Zegers Architects inserted a skylight along the ridge of a stable near Santiago in Chile.
The photography is by Cesar Belio.