HW Studio Presents Enso II House in Guanajuato, Mexico
An aesthetic example of what it means to coexist with the land.
HW Studio‘s latest project beautifully blends in with its natural surroundings. Located in Guanajuato, Mexico, the Enso II House draws inspiration from the rich cultural and historical roots of the land.
Architects at HW Studio conducted extensive research on the background of Guanajuato and its surrounding towns, ultimately deciding to lean into the distinct and unmatched architectural antiquity. In addition to Enso II’s traditional architecture and design strategy, smaller details inside the house also pay homage to the land’s history– such as the authentically antique kitchen utensils and aqueducts.
Because stone is such an important element in the Guanajuato area, HW Studio architects aimed to utilize stone as much as possible throughout the house. The complex is thus divided into four quadrants – each with its own “vocation” – which are spatially divided by walls of stone, in what is known as a “cruciform plan.” A large stone cross defines and separates each of the four quadrants.
As indicated in the press release, each “vocation” was created with a specific purpose in mind. The first section is set up for the guests to settle in upon arrival, equipped “with the vocation of housing an endemic garden that reinforces, protects, and welcomes living beings and humans.” The second is intended for cars, protected from sunlight and onlookers by trees and an extensive stone wall. The third quadrant sees a one-bedroom house and the fourth quadrant is an office space.
“The dispersion of these spaces forces a permanent pilgrimage between spaces; it forces contact with the earth, the air, and the mountain, like an ancient monastery framing the landscape, but at the same time forming a natural part of it.” Check out the images in the gallery above for a closer look at the design and detailing on Enso II.
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