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.

2024 WINNERS

exterior of single family home with lawn and trees

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

Projects
Kengo Kuma Unveils An Eco-Conscious Island Retreat
Kengo Kuma’s curvaceous architecture seamlessly blends with Kristina Zanic’s characterful interiors in St. Regis Red Sea Resort’s graceful renovation.
Projects
Seattle Aquarium’s New Addition Speaks To Environmental Stewardship
Recyclable materials and organic design inspired by ecology define LMN Architects’s green design for Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion.
Projects
Explore a Forest-Inspired Home in Mexico City
In Mexico City, the surrounding forests provide inspiration for Esrawe Studio’s award-winning residential building, with sweeping views of leafy trees.