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
Peruse an Updated Library in a Brutalist Build
See the 2023 Interior Design Best of Year Awards winner for Library, D.B. Weldon Library at Western University by Perkins&Will.
Projects
Bible Verses Inform The Design Of Thailand’s Church Of Joy
Department of Architecture Co.’s spiritual design for the Church of Joy in Bangkok, Thailand, blends the interplay of light and geometry with divine faith.
Projects
How This Hot Pot Eatery Appeals to a Younger Clientele
Chuan Hsi Pa Tzu in Chengdu, China, features sleek and minimalist furnishings in a youthful redesign by HDC Design.