March 1, 2024

Behind the Design of an Eco-Friendly Home in Mexico

2023 Best of Year Winner for On the Boards Single Family Residential

For a home situated in the drought-susceptible region of Ciudad López Mateos, Mexico, Desai Chia Architecture and MT Arquitectos envisioned an eco-friendly oasis for a family of four oriented around a courtyard that doubles as a collection point for rainwater. A standout semicircular staircase anchors the two-story, 6,000-square-foot plan, and floor-to-ceiling glazing ushers in daylight. The concrete facade will be cast in place and act as a natural thermal barrier. Interior walls will be finished with an ancient Mayan stucco technique made from a mixture of cement and boiled bark sourced from the native Yucatán chukum tree.

See Interior Design’s Best of Year Winners and Honorees

Explore must-see projects and innovative products that took home high honors.

2025 WINNERS

exterior of single family home with lawn and trees

inside the courtyard of a single family home with a balcony and greenery

Projects
Savor Crawfish At This Restaurant Overlooking The Dabaoen Temple
Take a closer look at the 2024 Interior Design Best of Year Awards winner for Shining Moment, Big Red Crawfish by Dayi Design.
Projects
Hotel AKA Alexandria Nods to its Historic Surroundings
Explore the 2023 Interior Design Best of Year Awards winner for Domestic Hotel Transformation, Hotel AKA Alexandria in Virginia by Lissoni & Partners.
Projects
Drive into This Award-Winning Car Showroom in Shanghai
For the launch of a new Chinese electric automobile with advanced-robotics capabilities, the carmaker teamed up with a sci-fi franchise.