Architecture practice Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados (PPAA) design a timber-clad, A-frame cabin on a site surrounded by Mexican forest.
Valle de Bravo is one of nine Pueblo Magicos (magic towns) in Mexico, recognised by the Mexican government for their innate charm, history and cultural significance. It’s here in this scenic town where prominent Mexico-based architects PPAA composed a contemporary forest retreat.
Certified timber in the interior is a nod to the home’s surroundings.
Pablo explains the stainless steel, onyx joinery and hand-finished walls evoke an unpretentious sensibility that “give prominence to the forest.”
The view from the upstairs loft.
La Colorada appears as two ‘dislocated’ buildings emerging from the earth; an A-framed form atop a concealed structure canopied by a large terrace. This terrace extends from the sheltered outdoor living space and wraps around the home, acting as a viewpoint to pause and take in the forest’s natural beauty. Beneath this outlook, a portico runs along the length of the building and provides an alternative entrance into the home’s private areas.
PPAA director Pablo Pérez Palacios says the bedrooms on the ground floor were born from the client’s desire for privacy balanced with a close connection to the forest. A submerged staircase unites this between both volumes and acts as the threshold between public and private. “It connects the two moments of the house, contemplation and introspection,” Pablo adds.
The palette focuses on one core material – certified timber – to convey a sense of admiration and respect for the home’s surroundings. Stainless steel, onyx joinery and hand-finished walls evoke an unpretentious sensibility and, as Pablo notes, “give prominence to the forest.”
The bedrooms open up to the forest and are accessed through the portico.
A black finish on the lower volume allows it to recede into the trees.
La Colorada appears as two ‘dislocated’ buildings emerging from the earth; an A-framed form atop a concealed structure canopied by a large terrace. 
