Ludwig Godefroy prioritises garden for “timeless” family home in Mexico
CategoriesArchitecture

Ludwig Godefroy prioritises garden for “timeless” family home in Mexico

Mexico-based architect Ludwig Godefroy has completed the renovation of a”simple” house and studio in Mexico for himself and his family that is integrated with an adjacent garden.

Godefroy and his partner renovated a former residence, focusing on the home’s orientation towards the site’s pre-existing greenspace.

A large semi-circle planter attached to the exterior of a house
Ludwig Godefroy has completed a house and studio for himself and his family in Mexico

“Casa SanJe is a very simple project,” said Godefroy. “The main idea behind the project was to reconnect the house with its garden, opening large windows everywhere on the ground floor. In and out are always connected in this house.”

Almost half of the square site is dedicated to the garden, while the other half contains the architect’s residence.

The entrance to a house with a gate door
It is organized around the site’s substantial garden

“Casa SanJe was an ordinary Mexican house from the ’80s, without any style, a simple house with tiles on the floor and texturized plaster finishing on the walls,” said Godefroy.

The architect replaced the former materials with concrete, wood and tezontle – a red volcanic stone – to “calm down the atmosphere of the house”.

A large wrought iron door
Godefroy renovated a house originally built in the 80s

The ground level of the home contains two entrances protected by iron doors.

A car park sits adjacent to the building’s first entrance, which is accessed through a patio populated with stone, planting beds and a concrete and brick sculpture.

A rectangular cut out in a wall
The ground floor contains large windows and doors that open directly into the garden

A second entrance is located further into the garden and leads to a vestibule space at the centre of the ground-level plan.

The interior program circulates around the vestibule, with the kitchen, dining area and living room located opposite the architect’s studio and library.

The entrance to a home with a mirror and sculptural elements
It is made of concrete with wood and stone elements

The kitchen and studio spaces were pushed along the back wall of the house, with slim windows placed periodically among cabinets and shelves.

On the side opposite, Godefroy installed large doors and windows that open the living room directly into the garden.

A dining table made of concrete
Furniture like a dining table and shelving was also made of concrete

Much of the interior furniture was made of caste concrete, like the living room sofa, the dining table, side tables, kitchen shelving and an island. And some are built directly into the floor.

Godefroy’s studio also contains concrete shelving and a concrete desk that runs along the wall.

A living room with a wall of exposed stone and a concrete couch
A wall clad in volcanic stone rungs along the back of the house

In the same space, a wall was clad in warm wood panels, while a vaulted ceiling sits above the architect’s desk. A chimney sits adjacent.

Like some of Godefroy’s previous projects, geometric openings were cut into interior walls.

An exposed wall made of red volcanic stone runs along the back wall of the house.

Located between the kitchen and living room, a wooden staircase leads to the second floor, which contains bedrooms and a primary bath.

Casa SanJe by Ludwig Godefroy
The architect’s studio opens onto the entrance patio

The primary bath contains a sunken, circular cutout in the floor, with multiple shower heads for bathing.

In one corner, a spigot drops water onto a stepped feature.

A bathroom with a circular cut out in the floor
An upstairs bathroom features a circular, sunken floor

Concrete was used for the ceiling, walls and floor.

Native plants were placed throughout the house, with a large semi-circle planter made of concrete placed above the house’s entrance.

“We wanted the space to become timeless, out of any trend or decoration, just made out of simple material, able to get old instead of getting damaged under the action of time,” said the architect.

Godefroy recently completed a number of projects in and around Mexico City, including a brutalist cube-shaped home and a hotel that recalls the design of an Oaxacan temple.

The photography is by Edmund Sumner.

Reference

Montalba Architects prioritises nature at Manhattan Beach House
CategoriesArchitecture

Montalba Architects prioritises nature at Manhattan Beach House

A slender pool lined with a “vertical garden” features in an oceanfront home in southern California designed by US studio Montalba Architects.

The house is located within a dense, beachside neighbourhood in Manhattan Beach outside of Los Angeles. Designed for a couple who are long-time residents of the area, the dwelling is imbued with a sense of calm and a connection to the outdoors.

Exterior of a multi-storey home in California by Montalba Architects
Facades were covered in stucco and western cedar

“Manhattan Beach House is intended to provide a spacious, peaceful feeling, offering an experience close to nature throughout the interior of the building itself,” said Los Angeles-based studio Montalba Architects

Situated on a narrow, sloped lot, the home rises three levels and encompasses 6,000 square feet (557 square metres).

Courtyard with a planted tree in a Californian home by Montalba Architects
Montalba Architects aimed to provide a connection to nature in the home

Facades are clad in smooth-troweled stucco and western cedar. Along the front elevation, a cedar and aluminium screen provides privacy and acts as a guardrail.

The slatted screen wraps around the north side of the home, where the main entrance is located. The screen adds definition to an entry courtyard while also providing visual continuity between the front and side facades.

Steps leading to an outdoor swimming pool with a green wall
A green wall sits beside an outdoor swimming pool

The front elevation looks west, toward the ocean, while the rear side faces an alley. To form sight lines and usher in daylight, the team focused on creating openings on both the exterior and within the house.

“Behind the street front, the volume of the house dissolves, with glimpses through openings between floors and between distant rooms.”

On the ground level, the team placed a four-car garage, gym, laundry room and guest quarters. The first floor holds the primary bedroom suite and a pair of offices, along with a two-car garage that is accessed via the alley.

A double-height courtyard on the first floor showcases a maple tree that is meant to be “a reminder of natural time and the seasons”.

“The courtyard is visible throughout the house, whether moving along the length of the house or up to the third floor,” the team said.

Living room in a Californian home with seating, a piano, and glass sliding doors with views of the city skyline
Glass doors on the top floor lead to a balcony

The top floor encompasses a kitchen, dining area, living room and media room. Glazed doors provide access to a balcony and a pool terrace.

The pool is lined with a “vertical garden” filled with drought-tolerant plants, including hardy geraniums, creeping Jenny and blue chalksticks.

Open-plan kitchen and dining room with large windows looking onto an outdoor swimming pool
Cedar covers the ceilings while oak lines the floors

“To maintain the living wall, the gardener is suspended over the adjacent pool on a rolling platform, which is stored on-site,” the team said.

Throughout the home, the team used earthy finishes such as cedar ceilings and white oak flooring and millwork.

Exterior of a multi-storey home in California by Montalba Archietcts
The home was designed for a couple living in Manhattan Beach

The kitchen is fitted with oak cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops, and the fireplace surround is made of silver travertine.

Other recent projects by Montalba Architects include the renovation of a 1960s Los Angeles building by Edward Durrell Stone and the completion of a hillside home in Santa Monica that features ample glazing and a clever siting strategy.

The photography is by Kevin Scott.


Project credits:

Architect: Montalba Architects
Landcape design: Pamela Burton
Living wall: Habitat Horticulture

Reference