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

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Jones Haydu utilize a crown of concave timber slats and linear pendant fixtures to highlight the communal nature of The Caffè by Mr. Espresso.